You're dead! No I'm Not! Yes you are!................
Posted on 05/16/2011 10:23:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
MENLO PARK, Calif., May 13 (UPI) -- A blood test that measures the length of a person's telomeres -- a predictor of longevity -- may be available soon, U.S. and Spanish researchers say.
"Knowing whether our telomeres are a normal length or not for a given chronological age will give us an indication of our health status and of our physiological 'age' even before diseases appear," Maria A. Blasco, who heads the Telomeres and Telomerase Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center and who co-founded the company Life Length, told Scientific American.
Telomeres are caps on the ends of chromosomes protecting the ends from fraying. Many scientists view telomere length as a marker of biological aging, a "molecular" clock ticking off the cell's lifespan, as well as an indicator of health. Studies show distinct correlations between telomere length and lifestyle -- those who say they are the most stressed have shorter telomere lengths.
Telomere pioneer Calvin B. Harley, who co-founded Telome Health with Nobel laureate Elizabeth H. Blackburn, says telomere length may be the best single measure of integrated genetics, previous lifestyle and environmental exposures.
Those who have shorter telomere length may be able to improve diet, exercise and stress -- but some say people may be able to improve lifestyle with taking a telomere test, Nilesh J. Samani of the University of Leicester in England said.
More info here:
This should set up an interesting contest between people and their insurance companies....
The doc calls me and tells me he has the results.
I go see the doc, and he looks at me very surprised.
I say, "why the surprise doc???"
He says...."because according to your blood test, you died four years ago!!!"
Now what??????????
Life insurance may become a bit more expensive...................
"No, never have."
"Do you drink?"
"Nope."
"Take drugs? Drive too fast? Eat rich foods? Screw around?"
"No, none of those things"
"Then what do you care?"
You're dead! No I'm Not! Yes you are!................
****This should set up an interesting contest between people and their insurance companies....****
If you thought people don’t like Obamacare now, wait till the government can read your tea leaves and base care on that.
Get life insurance asap, and make me the beneficiary.
I think just knowing your family history is pretty accurate too.
And they though palm readers were crazy.
Unless you get hit by a car, fall off a ledge, bump your knee, have a stroke, get hit by lightening, fall in the tub, get shot during a bank robbery......
So if it comes out short, I can stop this foolish exercise, diet, and start smoking and drinking again.
And screw the credit card bills. Come get all that crap back from me.
Yahoo!
I think the headline, properly written, would have been more along the lines of “...how long you COULD live.”
After all, your telomere count has is noting to do with you from getting hit by a train or catching pneumonia.
Does that figure into getting hit by a car :)
Life is not a journey to the grave
With the intention of
Arriving safely in a pretty
And well preserved body,
But rather to skid in broadside,
Thoroughly used up,
Totally worn out,
And loudly proclaiming,
WOW !!!! What a ride!
Author unknown
Okay, well all the telomeres do say, is how “original” your blood cells are, or how many replications, or generations they are from the original embryonic cells you originated from at conception. Supposedly this tells how advanced your aging is. This test means nothing if you suddenly get a benign tumor detected, end up in a serious automobile accident, or other events that can occur aside from your natural aging.
Down in Mexico, the marijuana dealers can tell by your blood how long you’ll live. When the blood quits pumping out of the top of your neck where your head used to be, you can pretty much be sure you’re dead. Marijuana use in the US has never hurt anyone.
I actually wouldn’t want to know. This is.morally wrong.
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