Choose your parents wisely

While lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking are essential for healthy ageing, another powerful influence on our well-being often goes overlooked: genetics. 

The phrase “choose your parents wisely” humorously highlights how much our DNA affects our health as we grow older. 

Although we don’t get to pick our parents, understanding the role genetics plays in ageing and disease can help us prepare for the future. 

Your genetic makeup is passed down from both of your parents, and it influences various aspects of your health, from eye colour to disease susceptibility. 

While environmental factors including diet and exercise can shape health outcomes, your DNA serves as the foundation. Genetics impact health through several types of inheritance: 

• Single-gene inheritance: Certain conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease, result from mutations in a single gene. 

• Multifactorial inheritance: Common chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors. 

• Mitochondrial inheritance: Some rare disorders, affecting energy production in cells, are passed from the mother through mitochondrial DNA. 

• Chromosomal inheritance: Conditions such as Down syndrome arise from chromosomal abnormalities. 

Some diseases are more likely to be inherited, especially those that tend to manifest later in life. Understanding these genetic risks can help you take preventive action. 

Cardiovascular diseases: Heart disease and stroke are often linked to both lifestyle and genetics. Family history of heart problems can indicate a higher risk for issues like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Specific gene mutations can be passed down, increasing susceptibility. 

Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes has a strong genetic component. If your parents or grandparents had diabetes, your risk is higher, but lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity play a major role in managing it. 

Cancer: Several cancers, such as breast and colon cancer, can be influenced by hereditary mutations. For instance, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes significantly raise the risk of breast cancer. Knowing your family history of cancer can guide screening and prevention strategies. 

Alzheimer’s disease: A family history of Alzheimer’s increases the likelihood of developing it, especially with certain genetic variants such as the APOE gene. While lifestyle choices can delay onset, genetics play a significant role. 

Osteoporosis: Bone density is influenced by genetics, making some people more prone to osteoporosis. If your parents or grandparents had frequent fractures or bone weakness, you may be at higher risk. 

Huntington’s disease: This single-gene disorder is inherited in a straightforward way: if one parent carries the gene, you have a 50% chance of inheriting it. The disease causes gradual degeneration of brain cells, leading to loss of motor and cognitive functions.