Would you want to know when you are goin to die?

[JohnRM]

I call BS.

How fast we are 'aging', even if calculable, would be greatly altered depending on the time the blood test was taken. I'm sure elevated levels of stress - a particularly rough time in your life, for example - or other similar factors could skew the results as time went on.

 

[Zelig]

I would take the test.

There will always be many things you can do to slow down death or speed it up. People shouldn't treat this type of thing like it's prophecy. It's just an assessment, either "you're doing well" or "better fix your life or you gon' die sucka!".

I'm not sure that there's anything you can do to affect the rate at which your telomeres degrade.

I call BS.

How fast we are 'aging', even if calculable, would be greatly altered depending on the time the blood test was taken. I'm sure elevated levels of stress - a particularly rough time in your life, for example - or other similar factors could skew the results as time went on.

I'm pretty sure telomeres only ever get shorter, a particularly rough time in your life (if it did affect the rate of telomere shortening) would only affect the test insofar as it only captures the current length, and not the rate of decline.

 

[Truronian]

No, as I tend to get stressed by deadlines. Perhaps that's what would kill me?

- Truronian -
1988 - 2051
Died of the stress of knowing when he was going to die.
Gravestone bought by his loving children and his cybernetic horse.​

 

[El_Machinae]

We have to remember that telomeres are only a small portion of what causes aging and death!

I'm not sure that there's anything you can do to affect the rate at which your telomeres degrade.

I'm pretty sure telomeres only ever get shorter, a particularly rough time in your life (if it did affect the rate of telomere shortening) would only affect the test insofar as it only captures the current length, and not the rate of decline.

Well, telomeres can lengthen if a gene transcribing telomerase gets activated. Some of epigenetic programming is under our control

And the story is a lot more complex than we'd easily imagine!


Deprivation and Neglect Found to Age Children's Chromosomes

the length of time spent in conditions of social deprivation and neglect correlates with lower IQ and behavioral problems. A new study, led by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and Tulane University, shows that early adversity even affects children's chromosomes -- prematurely shortening the chromosome tips, known as telomeres, and hastening how quickly their cells "age."

 

[NickyJ]

I call BS.

How fast we are 'aging', even if calculable, would be greatly altered depending on the time the blood test was taken. I'm sure elevated levels of stress - a particularly rough time in your life, for example - or other similar factors could skew the results as time went on.

I dig you calling BS. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'll stop. But I second the motion on calling BS. There are way too many factors for an accurate estimate.

For the vote: Not sure.

For classical's link: I die November 22, 2069, barring an ending of the world between now and then.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

What option should I pick if I think that the test results' representation of aging is bollocks?

 

[phoenix_sprite]

It doesn't matter, we're all dying in exactly 23 hours, 42 minutes, 10 seconds.

 

[Disgustipated]

I would like to know generally when I die. It would make retirement planning a lot easier. As it is, I think I'm saving too much money. I don't have an expensive lifestyle (I live on less than $1000 a month currently), and if I don't live long I don't need any retirement funds. Social security will cover my needs, assuming it's still around when I retire. Of course, I may have to deal with medical costs. But I can only hope there is universal free medical coverage by then.

So if I'm not going to make it past 67, I may as well find a way to spend all my IRA's as soon as I'm able too. And I may as well buy a fast sports car today. But if I'm going to live to 90, I may decide to save a bit extra.

 

[choxorn]

It doesn't matter, we're all dying in exactly 23 hours, 42 minutes, 10 seconds.

No, we're going to live until December 21, 2012. The idiot preacher got the date wrong by a year and 7 months.