The effect of solar cycles on human lifespan in the 50 United States: Variation in light affects the human genome

This paper describes the Sun's effect on the human genome as it relates to lifespan and expands our previous study from the State of Maine to the entire United States and the District of Columbia. In the current study we report that those persons conceived and likely born during the peaks (MAX ∼3 years) of ∼11-year solar cycles lived an average 1.7 years less than those conceived and likely born during non-peaks (MIN ∼8 years). Increased energy at solar MAX, albeit relatively a small 0.1% increase from MIN, apparently modifies the human genome/epigenome and engenders changes that predispose to various diseases, thereby shortening lifespan. It is likely that same energy increases beneficial variety in the genome which may enhance adaptability in a changing environment. This study also reports that living at higher elevations increases exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and increases the difference between MAX and MIN in the six states at the highest elevations of their population centroids by ∼13%, further shortening average lifespan about 3 months. How solar energy affects the genome is still not clear. The mechanism could be quantum mechanical (direct effects at a distance) similar to photosynthesis, or mediated by maternal hormones, chemokines or cytokines. The hypothesis is that specific wavelengths of UVR, experienced at critical times in development as at conception or early gestation, and with specific intensity or rate of change, modulates the expression of human diseases. This hypothesis could be readily testable in mice bred to manifest specific diseases.