Longevity and DNA: Can your genes predict how well you'll age?

With an ageing population comes a growing curiosity about longevity and how to extend lifespan. It’s no surprise that the hype around anti-ageing has captured attention worldwide.

Where did the sudden hype around longevity come from? It stems from the universal desire to live longer and the inherent fear of mortality. These days you can’t walk down the street without coming across a longevity clinic, anti-ageing treatments or an article about living longer.

What is “anti-ageing", really? Are anti-ageing genes a real thing? Research is generally limited but there is a growing body of evidence.

In this blog, we cover how genes impact ageing, what DNA tests can actually reveal about ageing, and how lifestyle can work alongside genetics for healthy ageing.

What Are Ageing Genes?

Scientists have identified multiple genes that influence ageing, repair mechanisms and longevity.

The key genes studied include FOXO3, APOE, SIRT1.

FOXO3: a key regulator of ageing. Specific variants have been associated with a longer lifespan.

APOE: the most significant known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

SIRT1: Moderate increases have been linked to protective effects against some age-related diseases including osteoporosis.

While ageing genes are thought to influence your lifespan, there is no single “ageing gene” that determines your lifespan. Genetic markers can influence risk factors.

How Genetics Affect the Ageing Process

So how exactly do genetics relate to the ageing process? There are several biological mechanisms that occur in the body which directly affect how fast you age. The key mechanisms are:

DNA repair: Your body is constantly repairing DNA damage caused by regular exposure to toxins and environmental stressors. Stronger DNA repair genes help prevent harmful mutations and slow down cellular ageing.

Cell regeneration: Healthy cells must replicate and replace damaged ones. Variations in genes that regulate cell regeneration can speed up or slow down tissue repair and recovery.

Telomere length: Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. Longer telomeres are associated with slower ageing, while shorter telomeres are linked to age-related diseases.

Oxidative stress response: Our bodies generate free radicals during normal metabolism. Genes that regulate antioxidant responses help neutralise these radicals and protect cells from damage.

Variations in genes responsible for these mechanisms might make someone more resistant, or more vulnerable, to age-related conditions.

However, it’s not only genetics that plays a role in ageing. Lifestyle choices can influence how these genes behave, effectively switching them “on” or “off” through a process called epigenetics.

Can Your Genes Predict How Well You’ll Age?

Genes can certainly influence ageing and the rate of ageing, however they don’t tell the full story. Genetic predisposition is a likelihood, whereas genetic determinism is an inevitability.

Environmental factors such as pollution and lifestyle factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity can override genetic predispositions and affect the ageing process positively or negatively. These daily habits can strongly influence whether certain genetic predispositions are expressed. This means that two people with similar genes can age differently depending on their lifestyle choices and environment.

Current research has identified longevity genes such as APOE which is linked to age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease and heart health, and FOXO3, which is linked to a longer lifespan.

Having these genes doesn’t guarantee outcomes and the absence of them doesn’t rule out healthy ageing.

DNA tests can reveal your biological age, but they cannot predict an exact timeline for ageing.

Genes provide useful insights into your ageing process, but ultimately, the way you live is a more powerful indicator.

DNA Testing and Ageing Insights

DNA testing at Smart Salem can reveal your estimated biological age and how fast you are ageing. You’ll get in-depth personalised insights about how to slow down your ageing process, especially if the results show that you are ageing at a fast pace.

The Smart DNA Age Well test measures telomere length – protective caps at the end of chromosomes (genetic material) that help shield against age-related illnesses. Our telomeres shorten as we age, but the speed of this process varies from person to person.

Our DNA tests are carried out by a simple mouth swab. Once the results return, you will be supported to understand them via a one-to-one doctor's consultation, rather than being left to interpret them yourself. The doctor will provide personalised recommendations to help prevent age-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and equip you with practical tools and knowledge to take action.

Can You Influence Your Ageing Genes?

You can’t change the DNA you inherit however you can influence how your genes are expressed. The term “genetic expression” refers to when particular genes are switched “on” or “off”; this process can take place as a result of your lifestyle habits and genes that are associated with longevity can be affected.

Genes are not the only factor that can influence ageing. Lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, optimal sleep and stress management, also shape genetic expression.

A longevity lifestyle is one where habits that support favourable gene expression are selected. These habits are all backed by research.

Exercise: resistance training in older adults has been shown to reverse age-related gene expression in skeletal muscle (3). Studies also show that reversal of biological age might be possible when exercise is consistent (4)

Nutrition: A “methylation-supportive” diet, which is rich in folate, B12 and plants, combined with a balanced diet, has been linked to reductions in biological age (5).

Sleep and stress management: Chronic stress can accelerate ageing and change expression of stress-response genes. Stress-reducing practices like meditation and breathing exercises have been linked to slower ageing. Poor sleep can impair repair processes and increase inflammation.

The Future of Longevity Science

Scientists are exploring advanced therapies to slow or even reverse aspects of ageing. Emerging fields include:

Gene therapies to repair or modify ageing-related genes.

Senolytic drugs designed to remove old, damaged cells.

Precision medicine that uses an individual’s genetic profile to create tailored anti-ageing treatments.

While promising, these interventions raise ethical questions about access, cost, and safety. The next few decades will likely bring deeper understanding of ageing genes and how to safely target them. These breakthroughs remain experimental, but they highlight a future where genetics may guide personalised longevity plans.

Conclusion: Genes Aren’t the Whole Story

Genes certainly play a role in how we age, but lifestyle and environment are equally powerful. DNA testing should be viewed as a helpful tool for insight, not a definitive answer.

Smart Salem offers safe, accurate DNA testing with professional guidance, empowering you to use genetic insights as one piece of your healthy ageing strategy.

FAQs

Is there really such a thing as a “longevity gene”?

There isn’t a single gene that is responsible for longevity, however there are some genes that have been associated with a long and healthy life. These genes include FOXO3, APOE and SIRT1, and have multiple roles including cell and DNA repair, stress resistance, fat metabolism, immune function and regulation of damaged cells.

Can my genes really predict how long I’ll live?

Your genes aren’t the only component that can influence how long you’ll live. Lifestyle and environmental factors play a large role, including cigarette smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and exposure to pollution.

Which genes are most linked to healthy ageing?

Gene studies have identified that variants of the APOE and FOXO3A genes are associated with longevity (2).

How much do lifestyle choices matter compared to genes?

Lifestyle choices play a bigger role in longevity than you might think.

Do men and women age differently because of their genes?

Women generally have a longer lifespan than men; women have two X chromosomes rather than an X and Y chromosome like men. The difference in ageing could be due to genes but is more likely related to multiple factors (1).