Analysis of Factors Influencing Human Longevity: An Essay

This essay examines the multifaceted factors influencing human longevity, a topic of significant interest across various disciplines. It delves into the impact of environmental improvements, such as access to clean water, healthy food, and healthcare, on extending lifespan. The essay also explores the critical role of lifestyle choices, including non-smoking habits, healthy weight management, and stress coping mechanisms, in promoting longevity and reducing the risk of age-related chronic illnesses. Furthermore, it discusses the influence of genetics, highlighting that individuals with long-lived parents or siblings often exhibit a higher propensity for longevity, though the specific genes involved are still under investigation. The essay cites research indicating that approximately 25% of the variation in human lifespan is controlled by genetics. Ultimately, this essay provides a comprehensive overview of the key elements that contribute to a longer and healthier life, emphasizing the interplay of environment, lifestyle, and genetics.

Student 1
Student
Professor’s Name
Unit Code and Title
October 2, 2019
Longevity
Longevity is at times used in place of life expectancy; however, the term specifically
refers to a longer lifespan of the human population. Many philosophers have reflected on
longevity which goes beyond recognizing the succinctness of human life and a further inclusion
on how to extend it (Parinandi et al. 1-3). It is worth noting that different groups have a
significant interest in longevity as they want to understand it more. The major focus of every
society is to extend human life due to the benefits and value that it holds. Longevity has been a
serious area of study demanding attention and interests in all the corners of the world. The
ancient philosophers researched on various factors that influence longevity.
First, longevity is influenced by the environment (Maiese 1-1). Research indicates that
improvements in the environment since the 1900s led to an increase in the life span and had
noteworthy improvements in the accessibility to clean water, healthy food, better shelter,
improved living standards, a reduction in exposure to communicable diseases, and improved
access to health care. The most outstanding changes were on public health that led to a reduction
in premature deaths through a decline in the rate of infant mortality, increased chances of child
survival, as well as avoidance of communicable diseases. Currently, people in the US can live to
approximately 80 years on average, though others survive longer (Maiese 1-1).

Student 2
Secondly, longevity is influenced by lifestyle. Ancient philosophers and modern
scientists have found out that longevity is influenced by the lifestyle adopted by an individual.
Scientists have been studying people who are in their 90s and 100s and they have found out that
lifestyle has a significant influence on the lifespan of a person (Jewett 91-99). Scientists have
found out that people who live longer don’t have common features with one another, especially
on profession, income, and education. However, the similarities that these people shared
reflected their lifestyles; whereby many of them were non-smokers, non-obese, and coped well
with stress. It is due to their healthy habits that older adults have less probability of developing
chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and high blood pressure, which are
related to their age (Jewett 91-99).
The third factor that influences longevity is genetics. Research indicates that children and
siblings of individuals who have lived for long have a higher likelihood of remaining healthy for
long and living to older ages than their peers (Maluf, Martínez-López and da Silva 1-2). People
whose parents are in the category of centenarian (those who have lived for more than 100 years)
are not likely to have age-related illnesses in their 70s as the case with their peers. Sisters and
brothers to centenarians usually live long and in case they develop age-related illnesses, the
normally emerge later than they do in the universal population. The research on longevity genes
can be termed to be a developing science. Approximately 25% of disparity in the life span of
humans is controlled by genetics, but the specific genes and their contribution to longevity
haven’t been established (Maluf, Martínez-López and da Silva 1-2). Several genes variations that
add to a long life are involved with the fundamental function and maintenance of the body cells.

Student 3
Work Cited
Jewett, S. P. "Longevity And The Longevity Syndrome." The Gerontologist 13.1 (2017): 91-99.
Web.
Maiese, Kenneth. "Ringing In The New Year: New Prospects For Development, Aging And
Longevity." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 3.1 (2017): 1-1. Web.
Maluf, Sharbel Weidner, Wilner Martínez-López, and Juliana da Silva. "DNA Damage: Health
And Longevity." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2018 (2018): 1-2. Web.
Parinandi, Narasimham L. et al. "Antioxidants In Longevity And Medicine 2014." Oxidative
Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2015 (2018): 1-3. Web.