5 ms·

Hackers live longer

30 points by newsit 18y ago

deleted 18y ago
[deleted]
aneesh 18y ago
> "The researchers also noticed that few of those with the "bad" version lived beyond 85 while those with the "good" form were likely to live to 100. " Without specific numbers, these claims are meaningless. Just how "few" people with the bad version died before 85? And how "likely" are people with the good form to live to 100? This would be more credible if they linked to the actual research paper or study. Edit: The title here is also somewhat misleading. The article didn't mention that hackers have a higher level of this gene than average
- streety 18y ago
  Tracking down a likely study is fairly trivial. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120119761/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120119761/abstrac... Unfortunately it's behind a paywall. This is somewhat outside my field but I do have institutional access. Based on my limited understanding of the area I would take issue with the quote. Although the data supports the statement that few people with the bad version lived beyond 85 (survival function was 0.1 at 75 and dropped to zero at about 87) it doesn't support the statement that people with the good version are likely to live to 100 (survival function was 0.75 at 75, 0.35 at 87 but still drops to zero at 102
time_management 18y ago
I'm dubious. Intelligence is not determined by one gene, but by the interplay of many, and there's nothing in this research to suggest that the other myriad intelligence-related genes have any biologically-based effect on the aging of the brain.
nazgulnarsil 18y ago
NEWSFLASH: Scientists make shocking discovery that staying mentally and physically active throughout life significantly lengthens it. that plus Water: how wet is it? at 11. now sarcasm aside, the genes that "make people smart" might more accurately refer to genes that create a predisposition towards activities that contribute to the human metric of "smart". A gene that makes you more likely to enjoy reading isn't the same as a "smart gene".
- jgrahamc 18y ago
  > Water: how wet is it? That depends on the contact angle with the surface the water is touching.
thomasmallen 18y ago
This is because we never move from our keyboards, lowering us into a state much like hibernation.
- LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
  Technically it's a sleep->suspend->hibernation process, depending on how long the subject has been immobile. Power efficient, but the reboot is a killer.
joubert 18y ago
The article's title is actually "Brainy people outlive others". Well, of course they do, because they are less like to do stupid things that will get them killed.
jmtame 18y ago
As I flex my finger muscles!
edw519 18y ago
No, it only seems longer when working on Windows.
nihilocrat 18y ago
I'm sure my atrocious eating and exercise habits will counter-act any sort of extra longevity from braininess.

30 points by newsit 18y ago

deleted 18y ago

[deleted]

> "The researchers also noticed that few of those with the "bad" version lived beyond 85 while those with the "good" form were likely to live to 100. " Without specific numbers, these claims are meaningless. Just how "few" people with the bad version died before 85? And how "likely" are people with the good form to live to 100? This would be more credible if they linked to the actual research paper or study. Edit: The title here is also somewhat misleading. The article didn't mention that hackers have a higher level of this gene than average

streety 18y ago
Tracking down a likely study is fairly trivial. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120119761/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120119761/abstrac... Unfortunately it's behind a paywall. This is somewhat outside my field but I do have institutional access. Based on my limited understanding of the area I would take issue with the quote. Although the data supports the statement that few people with the bad version lived beyond 85 (survival function was 0.1 at 75 and dropped to zero at about 87) it doesn't support the statement that people with the good version are likely to live to 100 (survival function was 0.75 at 75, 0.35 at 87 but still drops to zero at 102

time_management 18y ago

I'm dubious. Intelligence is not determined by one gene, but by the interplay of many, and there's nothing in this research to suggest that the other myriad intelligence-related genes have any biologically-based effect on the aging of the brain.

nazgulnarsil 18y ago

NEWSFLASH: Scientists make shocking discovery that staying mentally and physically active throughout life significantly lengthens it. that plus Water: how wet is it? at 11. now sarcasm aside, the genes that "make people smart" might more accurately refer to genes that create a predisposition towards activities that contribute to the human metric of "smart". A gene that makes you more likely to enjoy reading isn't the same as a "smart gene".

jgrahamc 18y ago
> Water: how wet is it? That depends on the contact angle with the surface the water is touching.

thomasmallen 18y ago

This is because we never move from our keyboards, lowering us into a state much like hibernation.

LogicHoleFlaw 18y ago
Technically it's a sleep->suspend->hibernation process, depending on how long the subject has been immobile. Power efficient, but the reboot is a killer.

joubert 18y ago

The article's title is actually "Brainy people outlive others". Well, of course they do, because they are less like to do stupid things that will get them killed.

jmtame 18y ago

As I flex my finger muscles!

edw519 18y ago

No, it only seems longer when working on Windows.

nihilocrat 18y ago

I'm sure my atrocious eating and exercise habits will counter-act any sort of extra longevity from braininess.