Reacción a "Study claims to estimate risk of death from oral cells with an epigenetic clock"

While the development of CheekAge, a next-generation epigenetic oral clock, represents a significant advance in non-invasive biomarkers of ageing, the use of the term ‘predictive of mortality’ raises ethical concerns. I believe this phrase may be misleading, as it implies a deterministic ability to predict death, which is neither scientifically nor ethically appropriate in this particular case. In reality, such clocks provide probabilistic risk assessments rather than concrete predictions. Emphasising mortality in this context could cause unnecessary anxiety and foster a fatalistic mindset in some people, rather than promoting practical knowledge about the duration of health and well-being.

A more nuanced approach would be to present CheekAge as a tool for assessing biological age and associated health risks, encouraging interventions aimed at extending healthy ageing rather than focusing on mortality. Clear communication is essential to avoid misinterpretation and to maintain ethical standards in the application of these technologies.