The Science Behind Ageing: Environment vs. Genetics 

The study of nearly 500,000 people form the UK Biobank — the world’s largest and most widely used health dataset— has shed new light on how our environment and genetics influence ageing and lifespan. Researchers created the most detailed map yet of these factors, revealing a surprising truth: while genetic risk scores — which predict our likelihood of developing certain diseases — accounted for less than 2% of differences in lifespan, environmental factors, collectively known as the exposome, had a much bigger impact, contributing 17%. 

Put simply, where you live, how active you are, your socioeconomic status, and even your childhood experiences play a far greater role in how well you age than your genetic makeup. For certain diseases, like lung, heart, and liver conditions, the exposome’s influence was as high as 49%, vastly outweighing genetic risk. 

The study also highlights the powerful role of the social determinants of health — things like smoking, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, physical activity, living with a partner, sleep, and overall mental and physical wellness. These findings are a reminder of just how much control our surroundings and lifestyle choices give us over our health outcomes, offering a sense of control and hope. 

What This Means for You 

This is actually pretty exciting. While we can’t change our genes, we have much more control over our environment than we might think. Small, everyday choices—like getting outside more, improving our sleep, staying active, and building strong social connections—can significantly influence how well we age. 

Take green spaces, for example. Meeting the WHO’s recommendation for access to green space could save nearly 43,000 lives every year in European cities alone—that’s about 2.3% of all natural-cause deaths. 

Air quality matters too. Research into fine particulate matter in air pollution is linked to at least 1 million premature deaths worldwide each year, with Asia being the most affected. 

And sleep? It’s huge. People with multiple poor sleep habits show signs of accelerated brain aging. Research reveals that those with more than three poor sleep traits — such as short sleep, poor quality, trouble falling or staying asleep, early waking, and daytime sleepiness — had brains that appeared 2.6 years older than  those who slept well. 

What’s truly eye-opening is how early life sets the stage. Factors like childhood body size, exposure to maternal smoking, and even height at age 10 can shape your health trajectory. That’s why the NICA + Voice is taking a genuinely multigenerational and preventive approach — because building healthy habits and supportive environments from a young age can make a world of difference down the road. 

So, What Are We Doing?  

At NICA + Voice , we’re leading an exciting initiative called the Quantum Healthy Longevity Innovation Mission. It’s all about understanding how our environment — from the air we breathe to the communities we live in —s hapes how well and how long we live. The goal? To turn these insights into real-world changes that help everyone live healthier, longer lives. 

We’re building the world’s largest shared knowledge platform on what drives health and longevity (you can read more in The Lancet here). By bringing together experts in science, psychology, government, data, and tech, we’re mapping the exposome—the full range of external influences on health. Using cutting-edge tools like AI, quantum computing, and systems biology, we’re tackling big challenges in health and climate while supporting the UK government’s push to boost healthy life expectancy and reduce health inequalities. 

But we’re not stopping at research. Through our City of Longevity framework, presented at the UN in September 2024 , we’re turning insights into everyday improvements. Imagine cities designed to cut pollution, housing policies that bring green spaces into our neighborhoods, and community programs that make healthy choices the easy choices. Our City of Longevity acts as a “living lab,” showing how thoughtful design and fresh ideas can transform our surroundings into places where people of all ages can thrive.  

A Rallying Cry for Us All 

The latest research in Nature Medicine is more than a nudge for us to tweak our habits—it’s a rallying cry for policymakers, urban planners, and innovators. At NICA + Voice, we’re answering that call with a clear roadmap for building communities that truly support healthy ageing, especially for those who need it most. 

By turning research into real-world policy and practice, we can create vibrant, resilient communities where healthy living is woven into everyday life. It’s all about ensuring that as we grow older, we can do so with health, dignity, and joy.  

The path to a long, healthy, thriving life might not lie in genetic testing or chasing miracle anti-aging treatments. Instead, it could be as simple as choosing where to live, how to move, and finding ways to create healthier environments for ourselves and future generations. The secret to aging well might just be all around us — woven into the air we breathe, the parks we visit, and the communities we build.  

So, here’s something to think about: If our environment is such a powerful determinant of longevity, what changes can we start making today — in our homes, our communities, and our policies — to give everyone the best chance at a long, healthy life?