Genes load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger, that’s the core idea behind the new science of longevity, according to Dr. Joe DeLoach.
Dr. DeLoach’s new Review of Optometry article explains that chronic inflammation, not genetics, drives most aging and disease, and that fixing lifestyle factors like poor nutrition, toxins, and inactivity could extend healthy years far more than curing cancer and heart disease combined. It points to nutrition, movement, mental health, and emerging longevity drugs as the biggest levers for a longer, healthier life. For practices, this shift toward prevention and healthspan is a chance to guide patients toward habits that protect their vision and overall wellbeing for years to come.