Do you really want to be reading this article? Probably not.
Sadly, genetics plays a massive role in how we age. The studies don’t just look at how you’ll look. They look at how long you’ll live and how healthy you’ll be. All the studies point to the importance of genetic factors like genes that maintain organism structure and function – no amount of lotions and potions will help you hide from that.
Still, the focus shouldn’t just be on how you look. You might be worried about that now, but as you reach your 50s, we promise you’ll be more focused on how you feel than how you look.
Below, we’ll explore how much influence genetics have on ageing and look at different ageing factors.
unsplash.com/photos Photo by Bruno Aguirre
How We Look
This is the one that everyone obsesses over but probably shouldn’t obsess over because looks don’t matter when your fingers and knees are riddled with arthritis.
Moving on – sadly, genetics do play a massive role in how we look as we age. Some of the ethnicities with the best reputation for ageing well are:
- Latin
- African-American
- South Asian
- East Asian
Sorry, white British people, genetics technically says you don’t age well, but it does all depend on your parents and the characteristics they pass down to you. And fear not, you can get all the fancy skincare treatments like anti wrinkle injections, so it’s not all doom and gloom. And lots of it will depend on lifestyle factors – foods you eat, sun exposure, stress, etc.
How We Feel
Moving to the part we should all be worried about – how we feel. We’re genetically predisposed to health issues like arthritis, gut issues, and generally, how well we move and function and the quality of life it gives us.
Without getting too sciency, it’s about gene expression that can determine everything from our hormone levels to the mobilisation of enzymes that help our body fight illnesses and repair. How much those genes express determines the severity. For example, you might be in a room with 50 people with arthritis. One of the reasons everyone will have different levels of severity of arthritis is gene expression (and lifestyle factors).
Understanding these inherited risks is becoming much easier with modern medical advancements. Many people now choose to look deeper into their family history to identify potential health risks before symptoms even appear. Clinical departments specializing in Medical Genetics offer detailed testing and counseling to help families map out these hereditary patterns. These screenings can detect predispositions to various conditions, including certain cancers and cardiovascular issues. This knowledge allows individuals to make informed choices about their healthcare and lifestyle early in life.
How We Think
We’re starting to learn that genetics influences how we think. Genes are literally the blueprint to our lives, and we’re now learning how genes control our cognitive function as we age. There’s one specific gene responsible for our cognitive ability as we age – APOE. That gene controls cholesterol transport and likely influences our brain function. The result could be a predisposition to Alzheimer’s.
More recent studies reveal that half of the variance in general cognition is attributed to genes.
Still, again, it’s also lifestyle factors like diet, alcohol consumption, etc.
Do you feel like you’ll get lucky with ageing? Don’t worry – genes play a role, but we can also make our outlooks better by focusing on a healthy and positive lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle is more essential than worrying about genetics.
