There’s a lot that can be done to increase longevity: maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, prioritize sleep, manage stress and mental health, avoid harmful substances, cultivate social connections, practice positivity, and pay attention to cellular health and micronutrition. But once extrinsic factors — such as violence, accidents, infections, and similar events — are taken out of the equation, genetics plays its full role in determining how long (and how healthy) a lifespan may be. Researchers are working to better understand this role, and their findings are already having an impact on what can be done to ensure a longer, healthier, more satisfying life.

Continue reading →