New test claims to measure biological age and predict time of death – but do we really want to know?
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a blood test that measures aging rate and estimates remaining lifespan. However, science writer Helen Pilcher warns that negative results could psychologically harm individuals and even shorten their lives, citing studies on self-fulfilling prophecies of aging.
In the season 5 finale of The Kardashians, the family took a commercial blood test to discover how fast their bodies were aging. Unsurprisingly, given their privileged lifestyles, the reality TV stars were found to be aging more slowly than most people their age. Khloé, then 39, had a biological age of 28, sparking joy and smugness. The Kardashians are just the latest in a growing list of celebrities who have taken such tests and boasted about their “biological ages.” Now, a new test goes even further.
Developed by Vadim Gladyshev of Harvard Medical School and colleagues, the method analyzes patterns of gene activity from over 4,000 people, as well as data from mice, rats, and macaques. It not only provides a measure of biological aging but also a “time to death.” The researchers believe this approach is more sensitive than earlier molecular clocks, such as the Horvath clock based on epigenetics. Currently for research use only, the test could shorten clinical trials for anti-aging treatments and inform age-related policy based on biological rather than chronological age.
But science writer Helen Pilcher, aged over 50, says she would not take such a test. She notes that the test offers statistical probabilities, not definitive predictions. It compares your molecular profile to others and infers risk based on what happened to similar individuals. Pilcher argues she already knows she should eat fewer biscuits and exercise more—no test needed to feel guilty.
More concerning, she cites research by Becca Levy of Yale University showing that negative beliefs about aging can become self-fulfilling. In one study, people with negative views of aging died on average 7.5 years earlier than those with positive views, even after accounting for other risk factors. Pilcher fears that a bad test result could taint her optimistic outlook and potentially harm her health. Thus, she prefers to live healthily and avoid any tests that might shake her rosy view of retirement, leaving such assessments to influencers like the Kardashians.
