Photo by Amornthep Srina from Pexels
If someone could wave a magic wand, and tell you the day you would die, would you really want to know? I guess if you knew a car was going to run you over at the mall parking lot in two and a half years, you could potentially move out of the way. Sounds like something from a science fiction horror movie doesn’t it. But seriously, if you knew you were going to die in the near future, do you think you would change your lifestyle?
Well, there is no magic wand, but there is a blood test. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing have created a blood test that can determine if you are at risk of dying within the next ten years. The test scans your blood for certain markers that link you to life-threatening diseases. These scientists reveal that test is actually pretty accurate with a prediction of death within five to ten years. Now, of course, this test is not ready to use on the general public. There are still numerous trials to do. But the researchers believe it is an “exciting step” to prolonging life.
Once this is ready to use on everyday people, it could, in theory, tell a person if they are at risk for having a heart attack, developing cancer or stroke. It could probably even tell you if you are at the beginning stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s. But is five to ten years enough time to change a person’s lifestyle to heal the body? After a lifetime of being unhealthy, it may be too late. But still, at least it could allow a person to take preventative measures, such as exercise and quitting smoking or drinking. A test such as this one could also probably determine who will live the longest as well.
If this test becomes available in the near future, do you think you would take it?