Find Out if You’re Bound for a Century: A 35-Question Quiz to Decipher Your Longevity
A team of scientists in New York has crafted a predictive 35-question questionnaire that estimates the probability of an individual living to the age of one hundred or beyond.
The assessment meticulously evaluates various aspects such as lifestyle choices, dietary habits, and genetic predispositions to provide an estimate of one’s longevity. A score between 80 and 100 points is an indicator that the individual is on the right path toward a long and healthy life.
This development is particularly significant given the unsettling decline in life expectancy rates in the US. As of now, the average American is projected to live up to 76.1 years, a drop from the 78.8 years reported in 2019.
Experts have attributed the decline to a combination of increasing obesity rates, Covid, and stagnant economic conditions.
The assessment, which is time-efficient and takes approximately five minutes to complete, is the brainchild of experts from NOVOS, a company specializing in longevity.
The design of the assessment is rooted in a wealth of research data, encompassing numerous studies and involving hundreds of participants. These studies focused on analyzing various lifestyle elements and genetic markers in relation to individuals’ lifespans.
Upon completion of the assessment, NOVOS employs a sophisticated algorithm that balances the varied factors to compute a score on a scale of 1 to 100.
The architects of the survey confirm that individuals achieving the highest scores are well-positioned for an extended and healthy existence. The questionnaire begins by asking about everyday activities, focusing on areas like sleep patterns, dental hygiene, number of close relationships, and physical exercise habits.
The importance of adequate sleep, previously underestimated, has recently gained recognition for its role in extending one’s lifespan. Achieving at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep per night and maintaining a regular sleep schedule contribute significantly to longevity.
Subsequent questions delve into one’s emotional resilience, probing levels of stress, ease of irritation, and coping mechanisms for stress. It’s well-documented that stress escalates inflammation levels in the body, leading to increased DNA and cellular damage, and consequently accelerating aging.
Nearly two-thirds of the survey, or 15 questions, are devoted to dietary habits and nutritional intake. Participants are asked about the frequency of their consumption of wholesome food items like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish. Simultaneously, the survey assesses indulgence in treats like cookies, chips, cakes, and snack bars, which may not be beneficial for health.
Questions regarding alcohol intake are also included, as scientists continue to investigate potential health benefits of moderate consumption. Another point of inquiry is the frequency of consumption of high-fat soft drinks.
The impact of diet on lifespan is still a subject of ongoing research. Evidence suggests that a poor diet, rich in processed foods and sugars but low in fruits and vegetables, may decrease life expectancy. However, maintaining a healthy diet alone may not significantly enhance lifespan without the incorporation of other lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise.
The final section of the survey explores familial risk factors—incidences of cancer or heart disease in the family—and other elements such as the respondent’s gender, age, marital status, and body mass index.
Upon completion, users receive a score via email, ranging from zero to 10 for the lowest scorers, to 90 to 100 for those scoring highest. While there’s no specific lifespan directly associated with each score, the researchers affirm that a higher score generally implies a longer life expectancy.
US life expectancy has plummeted to its lowest since 1996, as official statistics reveal. This alarming decline follows a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which projected the average lifespan of an American born in 2021 to be a mere 76.4 years. This marks the second consecutive year of declining life expectancy, falling from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77.0 in 2020, and currently matching the low of 1996 at 76.1 years.
Covid was listed as the third leading cause of death for the second year in 2021. In addition, a five-fold surge in drug overdose fatalities over the past decade—primarily due to a significant rise in fentanyl contamination—has further contributed to this declining trend.
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