Scientists Say Your Lifespan Isn’t Just in Your DNA

Show of hands, who wants to live to 150 years old? You may want to optimize your health to extend your life, but how much does genetics play a role, and how much does our lifestyle come into play? Men’s Journal talked with three medical experts to discuss their perspectives.

Jordan Weiss, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Precision Medicine and Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a former Research Scientist at the Stanford Center on Longevity. Dr. Weiss was inspired by his grandmother, who lived to 103, to study longevity. He studies why some people stay healthy as they age while others don’t.

What Has Changed in Medicine Over Time?

“Medicine has spent a century treating conditions reactively instead of preventing diseases from starting in the first place,” Dr. Weiss said.

Now, doctors, physical therapists, and longevity experts are trying to be proactive. They look at things like grip strength, gait (how you walk), balance, speed to complete tasks, and other factors so they can intervene before disease onset. Can you get off the floor unassisted without using something to lean onto or grab? That’s one test he mentioned as a key indicator of how you’re aging.

“The goal isn’t to live forever, it’s to be physically present and mentally sharp for as long as possible,” he emphasizes.

So, How Much Does Genetics Play A Role?

My paternal grandmother, Mimi, lived to 100. Her siblings lived into their 90s. Was it all based on genes? Mimi grew a vegetable garden, cooked, painted, led Bridge clubs, swam, stayed socially active, and had family nearby for much of her life. When she faded away slowly and died shortly after her triple-digit birthday, she wasn’t on any medication for blood pressure or cholesterol, and she ate her fair share of eggs, having grown up on a farm. Maybe Mimi had a leg up on a long life, but she also did things every day that kept her body strong, her mind sharp, and with a sense of purpose.

A study of Scandinavian twins suggests that up to 50 percent of our lifespan can be attributed to our genes, a leap from 20 to 25 percent from previous studies, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Many other factors are involved, according the study published in the journal Science. Accidents, disease, infections, mental health, and lifestyle choices all play a role.

It’s a Spectrum, There’s A Lot of Gray Area

That’s what Erik Schraga, MD told Men’s Journal. Among his many roles, including Chief Editor of the Procedures Section at Medscape/WebMD, he runs a concierge practice, Crescendo MD, offering personalized medical care to his patients. It’s not a one-size-fits-all program; he spends time talking with his patients and testing to get a baseline of their heart health, cholesterol, and lifestyle factors like exercise, alcohol intake, and food choices to help them make better choices for their health.

He also recommends the lipoprotein(a) test as a prevention strategy for heart health. Elevated levels indicate an inherited risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues. Dr. Schraga only tests patients if he thinks the results will be something he can take action on. For high levels of lipoprotein(a), he said, “By the end of the year, we’re likely to have three medications to treat it.” Three clinical trials are underway to test the safety and efficacy of medication for lipoprotein(a), a sticky type of LDL cholesterol that carries fat through the bloodstream, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

He recommends one simple thing to lower cholesterol, aid in weight management, and improve gut health. Fiber. If his patients aren't getting enough through whole foods, Dr. Schraga recommends a supplement. He also said most people are low in vitamin D and to maintain bone health, he pairs it with calcium to get the best absorption. He also recommends creatine to support muscle growth.

At the end of the day, meeting people where they are and helping them make better choices is his goal, without making them feel guilty.

“Living better, you will live longer. Having people feel better today, now, that will be its own motivation to continue and lifespan will go along for the ride. Eating well, sleeping well, and having good social interactions can only benefit you.”

One last thing, exercise is key to longevity, and to do something you enjoy so you’ll stick with it.

“Resistance training is for everyone.” At any age.

So What About Sex, ED, and Aging?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early marker of cardiovascular health, studies show. Around 40 percent of men in their 40s experience it, rising decade by decade, according to the American Medical Association. ED is one of the most predictable features of male aging — and one of the least talked about.

There are medications that work for the blood flow issues related to ED, but for men who have been through prostate cancer surgery, these medications fall short because they’re not able to address the root cause of ED after surgery, which is, “underlying vascular and nerve damage too severe for symptom-based treatments to work.”

Some call it the “silent aftershock.” Men immediately lose sexual function and this has a huge impact on their self-esteem and personal relationships, which can hamper ones lifespan.

ED can cause depression, and depression and lead to ED, which also affects men’s lifespan.

“This is the last taboo in men’s health,” says Adam Sebastian Sheikh Hjorth, who is the CEO and Co-founder of Nordic Stem Cell. He’s working with a team of experts to help men who have been through prostate cancer surgery to regain their sex life through stem cell therapies.

“Regenerative medicine is the path forward. The penile tissue functions as a semi-enclosed vascular circuit — stem cells injected there stay concentrated at the site of damage,” he said. His team of researchers in Denmark is studying stem cell treatment, harnessing the power of a person’s own immune system to treat, and solve the ED problem.

In a recent clinical trial, after a single injection of approximately 22 million of a patient’s own stem cells harvested from adipose tissue, 73 percent of continent men recovered erectile function.

So it appears that genes play a role in how long men live, but there’s a lot in your control. Diet, exercise, and a healthy sex life, can help men live long and well.