Want to know when you’re going to die? A blood test that is able to show how quickly you’re aging (and thus how long you’re likely to live) will soon be available for the general public in the U.K.
The controversial $700 Life Length blood test, which will be offered over the counter later this year, is able to provide an accurate estimate of how much time you have left on earth. How? Well, it works by measuring the length of telomeres, which are structures located on the tips of chromosomes; the Independent reports that studies have shown that people who have shorter telomeres often have shorter lifespans.
The test measures whether your biological age as determined by your telomeres is “older” or “younger” than your chronological age, and it’s not able to measure the exact amount of time you have left to live. But if you have shorter telomeres than normal, the Life Length blood test might be useful — you could change your lifestyle habits and work on stress reduction (which can grant a longer life).
Many experts predict that telomere testing (which is one of the best methods of measuring aging) will be common within the next ten years, but many have ethical concerns about the applications of such testing (including life insurance companies and anti-aging products).
Readers, would you take a Life Length blood test? Why or why not? Share with us in the comments!
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[The Times of India]
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