Saliva swab could predict if you'll die within the year - would you be brave enough to take the test?

Saliva swab could predict if you'll die within the year - would you be brave enough to take the test? READ MORE: Heartbreaking moment top doctor breaks down in tears over Covid By Xantha Leatham Deputy Science Editor Published: 05:16, 1 October 2024 | Updated: 05:16, 1 October 2024 e-mail View comments It's the only thing in life that’s guaranteed. But knowing when you’re going to die remains somewhat of a mystery. Now, experts could be one step closer to a ‘date of death’ test after discovering a simple cheek swab can accurately estimate your risk of dying within the next year by analysing changes to DNA.

A team from Tally Health — a biotechnology company based in New York — have developed an epigenetic clock called CheekAge which is able to work out biological age from easy-to-collect cheek cells. Rather than a person’s actual age, this analyses how old cells are. Biological age can be affected by things like genetics, stress, sleep, nutrition and smoking, and can be higher or lower than a person’s actual age.

Scientists have developed an epigenetic clock called CheekAge which is able to work out biological age from easy-to-collect cheek cells The scientists tested their method to see how well it predicted mortality from any cause in 1,513 women and men, born in 1921 and 1936 and who were followed throughout their lives. Analysis revealed that changes to DNA were significantly linked with mortality. Participants in the highest CheekAge group were 148 per cen.