If you’ve ever wondered whether health is shaped by genes, a new study has a clear answer: environment plays a bigger role. Research from Oxford Population Health, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that factors like smoking, physical activity, and socioeconomic conditions have a far greater impact on ageing and premature death than genetics.
What the study found
Using data from nearly half a million people in the UK Biobank, researchers explored how 164 environmental factors and genetic risks influence ageing and disease:
- Environmental factors explained 17% of the risk of death, compared to less than 2% from genetics.
- Smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity and living conditions had the biggest impact on mortality and ageing.
- Smoking was linked to 21 diseases, while income, home ownership, and job status were connected to 19 diseases.
- 23 of the 25 key risk factors are changeable, meaning lifestyle choices and policy changes can make a difference.
- Early-life factors, like childhood body weight and maternal smoking, can affect health decades later.
Environmental factors had the biggest effect on lung, heart, and liver diseases, while genetics played a larger role in conditions like dementia and breast cancer.
Understanding risk factors and taking action
Professor Cornelia van Duijn, one of the study’s authors, explained that many of these risk factors can be changed. That means policies that improve living conditions, encourage exercise and reduce smoking could significantly cut the risk of chronic disease.
We will be giving grants to projects working to tackle many of these risk factors. Health disparity – where your health outcomes are impacted by who you are or where you live, is one of our key funding themes. We are also interested in supporting work that focuses on preventative care.
Dr Austin Argentieri, the study’s lead author, stated that surroundings and behaviours are the biggest drivers of ageing and early death. Professor Bryan Williams from the British Heart Foundation also stated that your income, background and postcode shouldn’t dictate your health but right now, they do.
This study reinforces the idea that we need to focus more on tackling health inequality, not just treating diseases after they develop. Whether it’s improving air quality, reducing poverty, or promoting healthier lifestyles, there’s huge potential to help people live longer, healthier lives.
We want to hear from you
We know that voluntary organisations are doing vital work across Britain to make a big impact on health outcomes. If you are working to kick health disparity into the long grass, please join our mailing list and consider applying for a grant when the funding window is open.