For decades, the scientific community held high hopes that the Human Genome Project would unlock the secrets behind age-related degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and various cancers. The prevailing belief was that specific gene mutations would be pinpointed as direct causes of these conditions. However, the reality turned out to be quite different. A study published in the April 2021 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sheds light on this paradigm shift, illustrating that our genes alone are not the sole culprits behind diseases like colon cancer. Instead, it’s the intricate interplay between our genes and lifestyle choices that significantly influences our health outcomes.

A Complex Genetic Landscape

Contrary to initial expectations, the Human Genome Project revealed that age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s and certain types of cancer, are not triggered by a single gene mutation but rather by a complex web of gene variants. These variants interact in ways that elevate the risk of developing these conditions. The intricacies of these gene interactions remain a subject of ongoing research, and scientists are still unravelling how they influence each other.

To further complicate matters, not everyone carrying these gene variants succumbs to diseases like Alzheimer’s or colon cancer. Instead, an individual’s diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors play a pivotal role in mitigating or exacerbating these risks. The study highlighted here, focusing on colon cancer, exemplifies this intriguing relationship between genes and lifestyle choices.

Reducing Colon Cancer Risk Through Lifestyle Choices

In this extensive study involving nearly 350,000 participants as part of the UK Biobank Study, researchers delved into the genetic underpinnings of colon cancer. They assessed participants based on their genetic risk scores for the disease, determined by the presence of multiple gene variants associated with an elevated risk of colon cancer.

What the researchers discovered was remarkable: individuals with high genetic risk scores for colon cancer, who also boasted high Healthy Lifestyle Scores, exhibited a remarkable 40% reduction in their risk of developing the disease compared to those with identical genetic risk factors but less healthy lifestyle scores. In essence, it was a compelling revelation that genes do not act in isolation to predetermine one’s fate with colon cancer or many other degenerative illnesses.

Genes and Lifestyle: A Dynamic Partnership

Instead of genes acting as deterministic forces, it’s the intricate dance between our genetic makeup and lifestyle choices that either triggers or prevents the onset of degenerative conditions. In the context of the UK Biobank Study, participants with high genetic risk scores for colon cancer benefited immensely from lifestyle practices that included increased physical activity, healthier body shape measurements with lower body fat, avoidance of processed and red meat, higher consumption of vegetables and fruits, limited or no alcohol intake, and refraining from smoking.

To put it simply, individuals with less healthy lifestyle practices, even when carrying high genetic risk factors, faced a 40% higher risk of developing colon cancer.

Your Wellness Game Plan Matters

The key takeaway from this research is clear: your genes are not your destiny. Your wellness game plan, comprising dietary choices and lifestyle patterns, significantly influences your overall health and longevity. By making mindful decisions about what you eat and how you live, you can take charge of your well-being and enhance your healthy life expectancy—the number of years during which you enjoy a highly functioning body and mind.

In essence, the intricate tapestry of your health is woven from both genetic threads and the choices you make in life. So, remember that your actions today can shape your health tomorrow, proving that your genes are not the sole dictators of your destiny.

Reference:

Jungyoon Choi, Guochong Jia, Wanqing Wen, Xiao-Ou Shu, Wei Zheng. [Healthy lifestyles, genetic modifiers, and colorectal cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2021; 113 (4)](https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/113/4/810/6155851?redirectedFrom=fulltext)

Eat Smart, Live Well, Look Great,

Dr. Meschino