Longevity, or the ability to live a long and healthy life, is one of those subjects that has long fascinated scientists, philosophers, and the general public. Advances in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation have greatly increased average lifespans, but genetics still plays a significant role in determining why some people live much longer than others. This article deals with the complicated interaction of genetic factors, lifestyle, and the environment on longevity, and advances cutting-edge research and its implications.

Human life span is determined by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Since the 1900s, environmental improvements have dramatically extended life expectancy. With clean water, better homes, reduced exposure to infectious diseases, and advanced medical care, many factors have come into play to increase it. Most importantly, public health initiatives have reduced infant mortality rates, improved child survival, and decreased the prevalence of communicable diseases.

Nowadays, life expectancy is at 80 years of age in the United States. Many people surpass that and reach the age of 90, 100, or more. Long-lived individuals include nonagenarians, centenarians, semi-supercentenarians, aged 105–109, and supercentenarians, who live more than 110 years of age. Such people give great clues on what can influence longevity.

Role of DNA Repair and Cellular Maintenance in Longevity

Genetics is undeniably a crucial factor in determining lifespan, but it is far from the sole determinant. Longevity is a complex trait influenced by multiple genes, each exerting a small but significant effect. Research has identified specific genes, such as APOE and FOXO3A, as key contributors to longevity. These genes play critical roles in cardiovascular health and cellular maintenance, both of which are essential for a long life.

Supercentenarians live many decades more than the average population and often have gene variants that promote longevity. Such variants are implicated in:

• DNA repair
• Telomere maintenance, preserving the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes
• Cellular protection from free radical damage

These genetic traits contribute to the body's ability to fight off age-related diseases, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, for example. However, more important for longevity are genes influencing health in later years as a consequence of the effect of lifestyle and environmental contributions on health outcomes in the first several decades of life.

Are there Population-Specific Genetic Factors?

Interestingly, genetic determinants of longevity may differ markedly between populations. Studies indicate that some genes responsible for longevity may even be population-specific and depend upon historical, geographical, or cultural factors. This brings home the point of the necessity of genetic diversity in any longevity research and calls attention to the global nature with which the genetic basis of aging should be approached.

While genetics provides the foundation for longevity, environmental and lifestyle factors are equally important in determining how long and how well a person lives. For the first 70–80 years of life, lifestyle choices—such as diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful behaviors like smoking—play a stronger role in determining health outcomes than genetic predisposition.

For example, members of the Seventh-Day Adventist community in the United States, who adhere to a lifestyle emphasizing vegetarianism, regular exercise, and abstinence from smoking and alcohol, have an average lifespan of 88 years—nearly eight years longer than the national average. This demonstrates the profound impact of lifestyle on longevity, even among those without a genetic predisposition for long life.

Family Ties and Exceptional Longevity

Familial studies are among the most compelling evidence for the role of genetics in longevity. Exceptional longevity is defined as living 20–30 years beyond the average lifespan, and it is known to run in families. It has been found that individuals with long-lived parents or grandparents are more likely to inherit genetic traits that either confer resistance to age-related diseases or enhance overall health.

Lifestyle Choices That Enhance Genetic Potential

Even in the context of a genetic predisposition toward longevity, lifestyle choices can either build upon or detract from the chances of reaching advanced ages. The genes related to longevity often act in concert with health-promoting behaviors such as:

- Balanced diet rich in whole foods and low in processed ingredients

- Regular physical activity

- Effective management of stress

- Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption

These habits not only add years to one's life but also improve quality of life by reducing the risk of chronic diseases and maintaining physical and cognitive function well into old age.

With research on longevity continuing, scientists are increasingly concentrating on understanding gene-environment interactions that determine aging. Whole-genome sequencing studies of centenarians and supercentenarians have already yielded much information on genetic variants that promote long life. More genes and pathways contributing to longevity may eventually be found, setting the stage for medical interventions to extend healthy lifespan.

Advances in personalized medicine may also allow individuals to adjust lifestyle choices according to their genetic disposition to longevity. For example, some people may opt for diets that are heart-friendly and certain exercise routines in order to battle genetic tendencies toward heart problems.

Whether longevity is mainly genetically determined is the question that cannot be answered lightly. While genetics may give the script for a long life, lifestyle and environmental factors equally make their mark in the health outcome and longevity. Exceptional longevity is usually the case of a fine balance of inherited traits and healthy habits.

Finally, although we cannot alter our genes, we have control over most of the variables that decide how long and how well we live. We can all make conscious choices to focus on health to take steps toward a longer, more fulfilling life.

Estimates of the Heritability of Human Longevity Are Substantially Inflated due to Assortative Mating. Genetics. 2018.

As we today observe the World Dance Day, let us look at what dancing can help us with. Of course, the physical benefits are there. When you move your body, do any sort of physical activities, you are working out in some form and it helps you stay fit. Like everyone have their fitness regime, your dance routine can also help you stay fit. In fact there are certain fitness regime, including Zumba that keeps you fit through dance.

However, the benefits go much beyond just physical fitness, dancing can actually help you live a stress free life.

TikTok Dances For Mental Health

In one of the latest trends in TikTok, people are bringing back pangs of nostalgia to the internet with their 90s dance on rapper Doechii's song 'Anxiety' from the "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air".

Why is this trend important? With big names also jumping in and dancing to the rhythms, including Wil Smith and Tatyana Ali, experts say that this is helping ordinary people normalize anxiety.

Certain anxiety disorders are marked by persistent, or excessive worry. It could be fear about situations. As per the Mayo Clinic, these moments of anxiety can include panic attacks and sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort

Research suggest that creative activities, including dancing can help relieve this stress. Dancing also engages multiple areas of the brain and demands full attention, which can then shift the focus from anxiety feelings. Supporting this idea, a 2021 study from UCLA Health found that conscious dance led to mental health improvements in a large majority of participants, particularly those dealing with anxiety, depression, or a history of trauma.

Dancing: A Complete Stress Buster

Dance involves full-body movement and coordination. This kind of physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins—natural chemicals in the brain that act as mood boosters and stress relievers. During a panic attack, when anxiety can feel overwhelming, these endorphins help calm the body and mind.

Engaging in dance also activates deep breathing patterns, especially in structured styles like Indian classical dance. This is important because panic attacks often lead to rapid, shallow breathing or hyperventilation. The breath control involved in dancing can help slow things down and regulate the body’s response.

In addition, dance improves body awareness. When someone is in the middle of a panic attack, they often feel disconnected or dissociated from reality. Focusing on movement—on the placement of your arms, the rhythm of your steps, the tension in your muscles—can bring attention back to the present. This grounding effect helps reduce the intensity of the attack and prevents it from escalating.

Dance as a Distraction and a Mindfulness Tool

Experts explain that one reason dance can be so effective is because it serves as a powerful distraction. Instead of spiraling into anxious thoughts, the brain is forced to concentrate on movement, rhythm, and coordination. This temporary shift in focus can prevent panic from taking over.

Dance also builds mindfulness, a practice often recommended in therapy. Whether it's through a slow classical routine or a high-energy freestyle session, dance requires attention to the now. The combination of mental focus and physical release gives the body a chance to reset and relax.

Last year in June, when a woman collapsed on an escalator at Buffalo's airport, and Phil Clough, who is an experienced emergency medical responder knew exactly what to do. He and a bystander, as the Washington Post reported, quickly laid the woman flat on her back. They checked her pulse and breath. Her pulse was faint and her breathing was shallow and erratic. A few moments later, she stopped breathing altogether.

Realizing she might be experiencing a cardiac arrest, Clough immediately began performing chest compressions. He pressed hard and fast on the center of her chest while other bystanders called 911 and fetched an automated external defibrillator (AED). Within seconds of receiving a shock from the AED, the woman opened her eyes. By the time the airport rescue team arrived, just minutes later, she was conscious and able to speak.

Clough’s quick actions saved the woman’s life, but he credits his preparedness to a life-changing incident several years earlier. After witnessing a woman collapse at his gym and feeling helpless, he took a college course to become certified as an emergency medical responder. This training allowed him to respond with confidence when faced with a life-or-death situation.

The Challenge of Cardiac Arrest

The woman in Buffalo was fortunate that bystanders knew how to respond. Unfortunately, most people who experience cardiac arrest do not receive immediate help.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals in the U.S. annually. Tragically, 90% of these individuals do not survive, often because help arrives too late. For each minute that passes without intervention, a person’s chances of survival decrease by 10%. However, with prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an AED shock if necessary, survival rates can double or even triple.

Despite the importance of swift intervention, fewer than half of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting receive immediate assistance. This lack of action is often due to a lack of training and preparedness. Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, but with public access to AEDs and trained bystanders, survival rates could improve dramatically.

The Role of AEDs in Saving Lives

A crucial part of treating cardiac arrest is the use of an AED, a portable device that delivers an electric shock to the heart. The AED analyzes the heart’s rhythm and guides the user through the steps to apply a shock if needed. Although many states require AEDs to be available in public places such as airports and malls, they are not always easy to find. A study spanning 2019 to 2022 revealed that in public settings, AEDs were used only 7% of the time, and CPR was performed 42% of the time after a cardiac arrest incident.

To address this issue, PulsePoint, a nonprofit organization, has registered 185,000 AEDs in 5,400 U.S. communities, reports the Washington Post. The group’s goal is to help communities build their AED registries and integrate them with local 911 services. In addition, PulsePoint’s mobile app alerts trained CPR responders about nearby cardiac arrests and identifies the closest AEDs, enhancing the chances of saving a life.

Overcoming Barriers to Bystander Intervention

While CPR and AED knowledge can save lives, many people hesitate to intervene during an emergency due to fear of making a mistake, lacking confidence, or worrying about legal liability. However, all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect individuals from legal consequences when they provide help in a medical emergency.

Lack of CPR training is another significant barrier. A study found that only 18% of people had received CPR training within the last two years, which is crucial for skill retention. Although many people have received CPR training at some point in their lives, the skills may be outdated or forgotten.

To address this, some states have made CPR training mandatory for high school graduation, and countries like Denmark and Norway have implemented similar requirements. In the U.S., CPR courses are widely available online and in-person, and many take just a few hours to complete. These courses teach individuals the basics of CPR, which involves performing chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute and a depth of at least two inches.

You may have heard people say that they are allergic to things, whether it is gluten, soy or peanuts. These people avoid these items, even going as far as not dining in certain places where there is a possibility of cross contamination.

While it may seem like an overreaction, allergy symptoms can range from just a few rashes to cause of death. There are many people who did not and still do not take allergies seriously. As one of the most common allergies, many people who have close ones with peanut allergy, many places have opened “nut-free” zones including schools, offices and many public spaces.

While there is no cure for allergies, a new clinical trial results show that exposure therapy with peanut allergies has proven successful.

Why Do We Need Exposure Therapy?

The research team reported in the journal Allergy, April 2025, that a significant majority of the participants, more than two out of every three (67%), were able to eat at least five peanuts without triggering an allergic reaction after undergoing the treatment. This marks a positive step forward in managing this common and often severe allergy.

Seeing as expansive as the risk associated with allergies is, researchers have continued working towards proper cures and treatments. While there are precautions like avoiding the allergens, reducing exposure, when a person with a sever, allergy is exposed to the allergens, the chances of them going into anaphylaxis is a lot, so many people care EpiPens or epinephrine shot that can counter allergic reactions for a while.

How Does Exposure Therapy Work For Peanut Allergies?

The way exposure therapy works is pretty simple but needs to be done carefully. People who are allergic to peanuts are given very, very small amounts of peanut protein every day. Over time, the amount is slowly increased. It's like gently introducing the body to the thing it's allergic to, little by little. This helps the body learn that peanuts aren't actually a threat, and it starts to react less strongly. It's a gradual process, but the goal is to build up a person's ability to handle peanuts without having a dangerous allergic reaction.

In this study, 21 adults who were allergic to peanuts took part. Every day, they ate a small amount of peanut flour mixed in with their food. The goal was for them to be able to eat a small amount of peanut flour every day for at least a month without any problems. After that, they were tested to see how much peanut they could eat. The researchers were very happy with how well the treatment worked, saying that the results were similar to what they've seen in studies with kids.

The study showed some really impressive results in how much more peanut the participants could handle after the treatment. The researchers mentioned that on average, the amount of peanut they could eat without a reaction went up by a hundred times!

Why Are Researches Like This Important?

What makes this study really important is that it's the first-time scientists have specifically looked at how well exposure therapy works for adults with peanut allergies. Usually, this kind of treatment is done with kids because their bodies are still growing and changing. However, this new research shows that even adults, whose bodies are already fully grown, can still become less allergic to peanuts with this type of treatment. This opens up a whole new possibility for adults who have lived with this allergy for many years and haven't had many treatment options before. Many said that the treatment was "life-changing" and they no longer lived in constant fear of their allergy.