7 replies to this topic

[timewind]

There appears to be a correlation between reaction time, IQ, and life-span.

By consistently practicing reaction time tests would it be possible to improve upon the bio markers for longevity?

http://www.medicalne...icles/19564.php

Quote

The researchers learned that those with higher IQ scores lived longer, a result consistent with other studies. The study also showed that characteristics significantly related to death included male gender and smoking. But Deary and Der also found something new - faster reaction times seemed an even better predictor of long life than IQ.

http://www.mathsisfu...ction-time.html


I have been able to bring my average time down with some practice.  Hopefully life expectancy can be improved by thinking faster

[Marios Kyriazis]

Yes, I agree with this. Any cognitive stimulation can have beneficial effects on the brain and also many have epigenetic effects on other parts of the body. For example, cognitive stimulation can improve immunity and wound healing, reduces free radical damage and improves vision. So a good reaction time is a sign that the brain is working well and this eventually translates into a good protection against age-related damage. A fast reaction time is one of the biomarkers of aging used by some commercial computer programms that calculate the rate of aging.

[JohnD60]

timewind, on 26 December 2010 - 10:06 AM, said:

By consistently practicing reaction time tests would it be possible to improve upon the bio markers for longevity?

Of course the most accurate answer is "I don't know".
But my guess would be that reaction time is just a proxy for overall health and that teaching to the test is not going to improve overall health, therefore practicing reaction time tests is not going to improve your longevity.

[kenny001]

that is chain effect for the body, of course, you are right. in the reaction time, if you get the improvement, your life span will be affected as the brain. and good leads to good, bad leads to bad.

[Bryan Y]

I think if you focus on increasing your fast twitch muscle throughout your whole body, as a result, your reaction time in your test will go up. If you focused on increasing your fast twitch muscles just used for the test - that would be a cheat. But by increasing your fast twitch muscle overall, and more importantly, changing your diet to help affect this, as well as activities which promote it, your body changes as a whole, and you would likely be healthier and live longer.

[FadingGlow]

It would probably change the average lifespan of a certain species, such as humans. As applied to a single person, well, that would be totally coincidental.

[Tyciol]

I think intelligence and reaction help us to avoid and respond to danger so I'd imagine it'd greatly increase the odds.

[InquilineKea]

I think it's more that demyelination (which decreases reaction time) is caused by the same factors that also damage the rest of the body (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, etc...)