Life Expectancy Calculator

91. That's what I am predicted to live to based upon my answers. I thought the Life Expectancy Calculator was a fun and different approach to learning about aging. While taking the quiz I found myself agreeing with the majority of the questions that were asked. Aging is not solely based on genetics (although they do play a huge role in it). I think that there are many other things that factor into aging. For instance, family life and stress levels can directly influence what age someone reaches. I believe there have been studies that show individuals who live with one or more people have the potential to reach an older age than those who don't. Also, stress levels can alter different hormones in the body which can effect the rate of aging. I would say that during school I'm a normally very highly stressed person. I expected my predicted age to be a lot lower than 91 due to my high stress levels. Apparently I was wrong?

I found the questions asked about nutrition were also very important in determining your potential maximum age. I had a friend take the quiz as well. She and I have very different eating habits, but fairly similar stress levels and social/family aspects of our lives. Her calculated age, however, was significantly lower than mine. This makes me wonder how much emphasis this quiz put on the nutritional portion. Either way, one single quiz is not going to be 100% accurate in determining a maximum age someone will live to. It is hard to take in to account for what someone will experience within the next 10 to 20+ years of their life.

I was particularly interested in the question about flossing teeth and how that had to do with your overall health. I've grown up with dentists for parents and have been told multiple times throughout my life that flossing is not only keeping your teeth clean/healthy, it helps prevent heart disease and certain stomach cancers.

* Here's an article that relates flossing to overall health of the body Healthy Teeth, Healthy Heart. Enjoy! *

Aging and Genetics

Although this article is a bit dated, it sums up how I feel about this subject. The article states, "getting old is more than just getting wrinkles and not understanding today's teenagers." I believe that genetics plays a huge determining factor in aging. One key example mentioned is the degradation of our telomeres. Once these become too short or are no longer existent, the cells stop dividing and cannot repair themselves. This has been a huge issue in the science world and many studies are being performed to better understand this. Within the article it also touches on a lot of what Dr. Bronikowski discussed involving caloric limitations in mice. I would definitely like to learn more about how aging and genes relate to one another.

"Getting Old"

Endless Youth

Youth. In our society today, it is the epitome of happiness. When our parents and grandparents speak to us, they more often than not will say, "cherish these years because they will be the best years of your life." Age plays an all too important role in our daily lives. It is no wonder why people are getting plastic surgery left and right. This is shown in what we as a society deems as youth. 


In our world today, the older someone gets, the younger they want to look. This is when people rely on plastic surgery. In an article I read this week, teens as young at 16 are pushing to get liposuction, plastic surgery, and nose jobs to emulate the celebrities that grace literally every cover of our magazines and tabloids.  The media has gone too far and is etching uncharacteristically thin and perfectly polished men and women into the mind's of our youths. When did this become something everyone wanted? Why is it so apparent in our society today?