You Drive Science
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In the past, I shared with you research that shows the genetic contribution to health and longevity accounts for an estimated 25% contribution. As recently as 2026, another researcher quantified heritability at 50 %, mentioning that researching human life is challenging and full of confounding factors that are difficult to pin down. My personal experience (and maybe yours too) points directly to this challenge. I have outlived my dad and my older brother by 20-plus years. In addition, my three living brothers have had heart bypass or stent surgery, but not me. Is that a result of 25% or 50% heritability? Whether 25% is the ceiling or 50% is the floor—your level of influence—is significant either way. I never calculated my level of heritability. It is enough just knowing that I had inherited hypercholesteremia. From there I went to work creating my own flavor of performance longevity driven by curiosity, biological self-knowledge, and a refusal to accept a fixed fate. I am continually reminded that numbers, data and research, while solid may not be enough. Being receptive to new information, a seemingly soft and insignificant trait, is underrated. In fact, openness is one of the Big 5 Personality Traits that psychologists describe as the driver of not just aging but life’s trajectory. It is the capacity to remain curious—to consider new ideas, try things, explore new experiences, and accept that what once seemed true may no longer be the whole truth. The force that creates longevity is not found in heritability numbers. Evidence shows us that adaptive capacity and biological responsiveness, are innate in the human body. Remember, it’s not the strongest or most intelligent that thrive. Darwin’s conclusions are that those who can adapt effectively to changing environments will thrive. The proving ground or the test is in the adapting. We build the strength to survive and thrive by how we respond to new landscapes. Adapting in modern times means you recognize aging as a new landscape. When you begin to align your lifestyle with biology—how your body is designed to function—it will respond. It will reveal to you a surprising capacity for resilience and strength. Patterns are the key—what you eat consistently, how you move, how you sleep, how you manage stress—your lifestyle patterns are what influence how your biology responds. The leverage is in you, latent and waiting to be driven. Resources & Support Facebook Substack Gert in touch with your ideas, suggestions and comments. Forward this newsletter to anyone you know who may enjoy it. |
Fly Fisher Fitness
Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Montana Muscle is your engine for aging well. It allows you to climb stairs, carry groceries, pick up the grandchildren hike trails, recover from a stumble, and remain independent. As we age, that engine slowly loses horsepower—but it doesn't have to. Muscle mass shrinks with age. We lose strength and power—all the things that fuel an active life. Beginning around age 35, most adults begin losing muscle at roughly 1–2 percent per year unless they actively work...
One Thing to Age Better One of the most worthwhile efforts I make is cutting through the noise—the pseudo-fitness gadgets, miracle supplements and time-wasting trends. The problem is, most people don’t have the time or the patience to separate what works from what’s nonsense. So I do. At age 40, I needed medical clearance to qualify for arduous duty as a wildland firefighter. Because of my family history—my father died of a heart attack at 53—I was required to pass an exercise stress test. I...
Capacity for the Season It’s trout season—fishing season, in fact. If you haven’t been exercising throughout the winter, you may feel under the gun, tempted to compress your effort to get in shape into a short window before the season begins. That’s not optimal, but your something is better than nothing. To maximize effectiveness in a short window of time, focus on what matters most. Cardiorespiratory fitness is known as the holy grail of longevity and health span. It also delivers something...