The author of the piece began by filling out a health profile for a Silicon Valley startup called DeathClock, providing details such as height, weight, allergies, family medical history, and daily sugar and alcohol intake. The app then estimated a death date of 83 years old, with a worst‑case scenario of 50 and a stretch goal of 104.5, presented with a cartoon Grim Reaper on a donut‑shaped inner tube.
After signing up for a blood test, the author visited a nondescript Midtown office. The receptionist’s brief interaction and the oddly decorated waiting room gave the experience a surreal feel. The blood draw itself was quick, and the author left within ten minutes, feeling “alive” after a day of fasting.
The next morning, a text confirmed the test results. The author’s “biological age” was revised from 36 to 29, and the death date was updated to 92 years old, adding a decade in 24 hours. The report highlighted healthy lipid and C‑reactive protein levels but noted insufficient Vitamin D.
Founder Brent Franson explained that DeathClock’s tests are inexpensive, reliable predictors of phenotypic age and that the company aims to provide a science‑led, AI‑driven preventative health platform. He contrasted the service with the infamous Theranos, stressing that DeathClock uses standard laboratory tests and that doctors can review the results.
Franson also discussed the risks of over‑screening, citing his own experience with a CT calcium score that revealed an anomalous coronary artery. He emphasized the importance of balancing useful diagnostics with potential harm and clarified that the company’s goal is to help people gain extra years of healthy life rather than promise immortality.
