Being active may have a bigger role than genes in how long you live, UCSD study says

Previous research has shown that low physical activity and more time spent sitting are associated with a higher risk of death. Does risk change if a person is genetically predisposed to live a long life?

That is the question researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego set out to answer in a study published Aug. 24 by the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.

“The goal of this research was to understand whether associations between physical activity and sedentary time with death varied based on different levels of genetic predisposition for longevity,” said lead author Alexander Posis, a fourth-year doctoral student in the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health.

In 2012, as part of the Women’s Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health study, researchers began measuring the physical activity of 5,446 women in the United States who were 63 or older, following them through 2020 to determine mortality. Participants wore a research-grade accelerometer for up to seven days to measure how much time they spent moving, the intensity of their physical activity and their sedentary time.

The prospective study found that higher levels of light, moderate or vigorous physical activity were associated with a lower risk of death. Higher sedentary time was associated with a higher risk. The associations were consistent among women who had different levels of genetic predisposition for longevity.

“Our study showed that, even if you aren’t likely to live long based on your genes, you can still extend your life span by engaging in positive lifestyle behaviors such as regular exercise and sitting less,” said senior author Aladdin Shadyab, an assistant professor at the Herbert Wertheim School. “Conversely, even if your genes predispose you to a long life, remaining physically active is still important to achieve longevity.”

Given the aging adult population in the United States and longer time spent in lower-intensity activities, the study’s findings support recommendations that older women participate in physical activity of any intensity to reduce the risk of disease and premature death, according to the authors. ◆