Assessing your lifespan through a straightforward linguistic evaluation

In a groundbreaking study conducted by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, under the guidance of renowned psychologist Ulman Lindenberger, the ability to quickly name many animal species has been found to be a surprising indicator of life expectancy, particularly in older adults.

The research team, which included experts from Austrian and Italian institutions such as Vetmeduni, analysed data from over 500 participants in the Berlin Aging Study. This study consists of individuals aged 70 to over 95, all of whom have fully documented life data.

The study focused on a simple task: participants were asked to name as many animal species as possible within 90 seconds. A similar pattern was observed in a second task, where participants were asked to name as many words starting with the letter "S" as possible.

The study revealed that the number of animal species named in 90 seconds had a significant correlation with average life expectancy. Participants who named only 11 animals had an average remaining lifespan of about three years, while those who named around 33 animals had an average life expectancy of 12 more years.

Interestingly, a similar pattern was observed in the "S" task. People who named 22 words lived significantly longer than those who named only seven.

The study did not provide specific details on how verbal fluency affects life expectancy, nor did it reveal any other factors that influence life expectancy apart from verbal fluency. It also did not mention any specific animal species that were named by the participants, nor did it provide any information on whether the participants' verbal fluency improved or declined over time.

Despite these gaps, the study's findings suggest that our life expectancy can be inferred from our verbal fluency, especially in older adults. Good performance in the language test is linked to stable and well-connected brain function, which is beneficial in old age.

Activities like crossword puzzles, learning new languages, regular reading, or mental exercises like animal naming may boost cognitive performance and potentially influence lifespan positively. The animal-naming task may outperform classic cognitive tests, such as those for short-term memory.

In conclusion, the study sheds light on the importance of maintaining cognitive abilities throughout life, and highlights the potential for simple activities like naming animals to have a significant impact on life expectancy.