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Want to know how long you are going to live? There's an app for that. Well, not yet but there is a test that will, no doubt, find its way to an IPod at some point.
By summer, scientists think they will have the ability to read your genetic signature and determine whether it's in your DNA to live a long life or ... not says Thomas Perls, associate professor of medicine at Boston University where the longevity studies took place with some 1000+ centenarians.
Dr. Perls says that lifestyle choices determine our fate up
to about age 85. After that, thank your ancestors
or ... not for every additional day.
Scientists are worried that if people fail the test, it will lead to reckless behavior and poor health habits. There is also a real concern that health care providers, life insurance companies and others will make DNA policy decisions based on such data.
But before you start wondering about the repercussions, relax; only about 15% of us stand a chance, genetically, of living a very long life. Add the hazards we face and our bad habits and it's a wonder anyone lives much past 60.
So a pass or fail on the longevity test would seem to have about as much value as a roll of the dice in Las Vegas. It's silly to think the reason people won't take care of themselves is because they discover they are generically predisposed to die before their 86th birthday.
Most of us fail to believe that we will ever grow old
until the moment we are there.
But more importantly, who cares? Even those with the longest living DNA can still take their last breath long before those genes wear out. There's simply no guarantee found in anyone's DNA.
The biggest reason for taking care of yourself isn't to live longer but to live healthier. Unfortunately, that is not a choice many people make.
The best thing about this research is that you can have a
notable effect on your ability to live 85 years.
And the best way to have an effect is still through diet, exercise and an anti-aging attitude.
How many years do you want?
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