A new study has provided fresh insight into an age-old question: What plays a bigger role in how long we live, genetics or lifestyle?

Although it has long been observed that people whose parents and grandparents live longer also live longer, lifestyle choices like diet and exercise also play an important role in extending lifespan. .

This latest research sheds light on how these two factors interact and which one has the greater impact on longevity.

The study published in Nature, which focused on the effects of calorie restriction on lifespan, used 960 genetically diverse mice to examine how different levels of calorie intake affected longevity.

The researchers tested classical models of calorie reduction, feeding mice 20% or 40% fewer calories than usual, as well as intermittent fasting models, which mimic popular human dietary trends.

diet vs genetics

Main finding? It appears that genetics play a larger role in determining lifespan than dietary interventions alone.

Mice that were exposed to the disease lived longer despite changes in diet, suggesting that “good genes” are important for longevity. While calorie restriction improved the lifespan of the shorter-lived mice, they still could not match their longer-lived counterparts, despite dietary improvements.

Despite this, the study showed that calorie restriction was still beneficial, with rats in the 40% calorie reduction group experiencing an increased lifespan compared to the 20% group.

However, this excessive diet also brought drawbacks, such as decreased immune function and muscle loss, which could have negative effects on health in real-world environments.

An important caveat is that it is not clear how directly these findings apply to humans. Control rats were fed as much as they wanted, which is not a true reflection of human eating habits.

The 40% calorie restriction group exercised more, possibly due to hunger-motivated behavior, making the relationship between diet, exercise and lifespan more complex.

Ultimately, while we can’t change the genes we inherit, studies show that lifestyle interventions, such as a balanced diet and regular exercise, can still have a positive impact on how long we live. Genetics may set the foundation, but how we live can also make a significant difference.