B2 – Upper Intermediate
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine have developed the Health Octo Tool, a novel method to estimate an individual’s biological age and predict health outcomes. By analyzing eight clinical and bloodwork metrics, the tool assesses aging more comprehensively than traditional methods. It introduces concepts like “health entropy” and assigns a “body organ disease number” to evaluate the condition and aging rate of individual organs.
Read the article to know why the researchers aim to develop a digital application to help individuals track their aging metrics and the effects of lifestyle changes.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/old-really-test-calculates-biological-123000895.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “a slew of something” mean? “A new way of calculating your biological age called the Health Octo Tool uses a slew of different metrics to figure out your biological age.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “health entropy” mean? “The tool centers around an aging concept called health entropy.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “susceptibility to something” mean? “Ultimately, the researchers say that the Health Octo tool is better than major tests used for assessing biological age, including the frailty index, a widely-used test that looks at a person’s susceptibility to age-related health issues.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on this tool?
- Why is knowing a person’s aging process necessary?
- What types of data does the Health Octo Tool use to determine a person’s biological age?
- How does the tool evaluate the aging process of individual organs?
- What is the reported accuracy of the tool in predicting age-related outcomes like mortality and functional decline?
- Why do some experts advise caution despite the tool’s high accuracy and potential benefits?