A holistic look at what influences older adults’ perception of their longevity

Harvard Bell Fellow Lindsay Kobayashi, PhD, is lead author on a paper in PLOS One that takes a closer look at the sociodemographic, biomedical, behavioral, and psychological predictors of older adults’ perceived life expectancy, which is predictive of mortality risk.

How does perceived life expectancy influence colon cancer screening participation?

Harvard Bell Fellow Lindsay Kobayashi, PhD, is lead author on a study that has found those who expect to live another 10-15 years were significantly more likely to participate in colorectal cancer screening than those who expected to live five years or less. The results of the study also suggest that it may be important to communicate the risk of the screening to those with lower life expectancy, as the benefits of early diagnosis are minimal…