Those in search of reasons to stay in college need look no further. Those in search of an education need only a good night's sleep.
The Shape of Things to Come
A John Hopkins study found a pregnant woman with more than a high school diploma could accurately predict her baby's gender 70% of the time. Those with less education guessed correctly 43% of the time. The study was originally intended to put several old wives' tales to the test, as it has long been thought that how high or low a mother carries a baby (or the shape of mama's belly) could predict the gender. On top of the finding about education, another surprise discovery revealed predictions were more accurate when based on the woman's feelings or the dreams she'd had.
Once these bundles of joy are among us, what can we do to increase their chances of a long and happy life?
Be Cool - Stay in School
When Dr. Adriana Lleras-Muney was a Columbia University graduate student in 1999, she was looking for a topic for her doctoral dissertation in economics. She came across a 1969 paper wherein three economists had speculated the best way to improve health. Rather than invest in medical care, they advised one would do better to invest in education.
Dr. Lleras-Muney's prize-winning paper was the first intensive effort to determine if education played a significant role with regard to longevity. She completed the daunting task of studying the census and the laws dictating the number of hours children were to attend school over the past 100 years, and was surprised by what she found. By age 35, life expectancy was extended by about 18 months with just one extra year of education. The increase in longevity was exponential when more years of education were added.
Those whose thoughts, observations, and studies concur with Dr. Lleras-Muney's findings include Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging, Michael Grossman, a health economist at the City University of New York, and Dr. James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation. They have all found education to be of more significance with regard to longevity than any other factor, including income, race, location, or whether or not one has health insurance.
Dr. Lleras-Muney's findings first appear to support the notion that wealth equals health. Wealthier people are statistically healthier and this is thought to be due, in large part, to their access to better healthcare. Other studies, however, have revealed no significant difference in the degree of health between rich and poor in those countries where everyone has health care. "All you have to do is look at the experience of countries like England that have had health insurance for more than 40 years,” Dr. Smith says. “There is no diminution in the class differentials. It’s been the same in Sweden. It’s true everywhere.”
Article comments
1 - Christopher Rose
There's a lot of work being done in the field of life extension these days. If I'm really lucky, it will become a usable technology before I die!
On a more serious note, when all the research into this field pays off, it is going to completely change the face of society as we know it. Just imagine what is going to happen in the fields of work, pensions, health care, banking and social relationships if people start to enjoy good health up to the age of 150 or more as a matter of routine...