The authors of a Harvard study have produced a curious test of 10 questions that take into account risk factors to give users a percentage risk of dying in the next four years. However, don’t worry, it is designed for people over 65, whose possibility of death, although debatable, increases.
Dr. Sachin Shah, an attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of Harvard Medical School, designed this test, called the Social Fragility Index.
This test will start by asking users their age and gender before questioning them about eight social factors that measure whether they feel isolated and in what type of area they live in order to establish a percentage.
Of course (since it would be too daring and bad omen) It’s not going to tell you exactly what you’re most likely to die of.but they affirm that there are factors such as loneliness, pollution and a lack of social relationships that can lead to chronic stress and lack of mental stimulation, which increases the increase in dementia, heart disease and other chronic diseases.
A Harvard test to find out what your chances of dying are
The basis of this test It focuses quite an interesting aspect. As they explain, “We often overemphasize the importance of medical conditions when we think about longevity. This research shows that our social lives are just as important as medical conditions.”.
Everything is born from a study previous in which eight surprising factors were revealed that increase the risk of suffering a premature death, such as living in a dirty place, being away from children or not being a respected person in your environment.
To test the study, the scientists grouped more than 8,000 adults over the age of 65 and surveyed them on social factors. They were then followed for four years, during which time 1,760 (22%) died.
After this analysis, they detected the eight social factors that, according to the scientists, predicted the risk of death premature of an individual:
- How often did you see your children and grandchildren
- If they did volunteer work
- if they feel alone
- How often did you feel isolated?
- If they lived in a clean area
- If they had control over their finances
- How often did you feel treated poorly and disrespectfully?
- Whether they currently had a paid job
On the other hand, establishing this type of test from the age of 65 makes sense. And it is that, they explain that retirement leads to a change in activity patternssuch as stopping commuting, socializing and being busy, which puts people at greater risk of obesity and forces them to engage in less stimulating mental activities for themselves.