A worksheet for checking a longevity test's evidence
Record the claim, study population, comparison, outcomes and harms before deciding what the evidence does and does not establish.
Start by writing the exact claim and the outcome it promises. Then ask whether the cited research measured that outcome in people like the intended users. A test can detect a signal without research establishing that using it improves health.
This worksheet is an editorial reading aid. It is not a validated scoring system, a verdict on every longevity test, or a way to decide your personal screening needs without a clinician. It can be printed or copied into private notes without subscribing.
First, separate three claims
| Claim being made | What to look for in the evidence |
|---|---|
| The test measures a signal reliably | Research about the measurement and its limits |
| The signal is associated with a condition or risk | Research linking the signal to the stated outcome in a defined population |
| Acting on the result improves health | Research evaluating what happens when the testing-and-action pathway is used |
Evidence for one claim is not automatically evidence for the next. The National Cancer Institute describes effective cancer screening in terms of early detection, reduced cancer deaths and the balance of benefits and harms. That is cancer screening guidance, not proof for or against every wellness test.
Fill in the evidence record
Use the paper or research report rather than only the seller's summary. Mark unavailable information not reported in the material I read; do not assume it was never studied.
| Field | Your notes and where you found the answer |
|---|---|
| Exact claim, product or test version, date | ______ |
| Research title and public link | ______ |
| Participants, number and relevant characteristics | ______ |
| Study design and comparison group, if any | ______ |
| Outcome actually measured and follow-up length | ______ |
| Size of benefit or harm, denominator and uncertainty | ______ |
| What happens after a positive, negative or unclear result | ______ |
| Harms, additional tests and burden reported | ______ |
| Funding, conflicts and stated limitations | ______ |
| What this research leaves unanswered | ______ |
Do not add up the rows into a pass score. A complete table can still describe research that does not answer the claim being advertised.
Check whether the outcome matches the promise
The FDA's endpoint guidance distinguishes direct clinical outcomes from surrogate endpoints and explains that validation depends on evidence in a particular context. This is drug and biologic development guidance; it does not classify a consumer test for you.
For a longevity claim, record whether the research measured a laboratory value, a detection rate, symptoms, function, illness or survival. Ask what evidence connects that measured result to the promised benefit. Do not assume that every biomarker is useless, or that every change in a biomarker establishes longer life.
A worked reading question, without an invented study
Suppose an advertisement says a test “finds more abnormalities.” This is a hypothetical claim, not a patient story or study finding. In your worksheet, put abnormalities detected under the measured outcome. Leave better health or longer life unanswered unless the actual research addresses it. Then look for what happened after detection, including additional investigations and harms.
Discuss the completed sheet with an appropriate clinician if you are considering a test. New symptoms call for assessment rather than a shopping comparison of screening offers.
Read screening versus diagnostic testing for the starting distinction and absolute versus relative risk for interpreting percentages. The whole-body MRI evidence review examines one specific offer.
Sources checked on 12 October 2026. Worksheet and hypothetical example are original editorial tools; no licensed clinical review is claimed.
Sources
Applying the evidence
A verdict about a claim is not an individual screening plan. Read the screening guide and discuss your history, prior results and possible follow-up with a qualified clinician.