Objectives: This paper examines public understandings of possibilities for increasing life expectancy, interest in taking up lifespan-extending interventions, and motivations influencing these intentions. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 31 adults, aged 50 and over. Results: Participants believed that technological advances would increase life expectancy but questioned the value of quantity over quality of life. Life in itself was not considered valuable without the ability to put it to good use. Participants would not use technologies to extend their own lifespan unless the result would also enhance their health. Conclusions: These findings may not be generalisable to the general public but they provide the first empirical evidence on the plausibility of common assumptions about public interest in 'anti-ageing' interventions. Surveys of the views of representative samples of the population are needed to inform the development of a research agenda on the ethical, legal and social implications of lifespan extension.• There is diversity in opinions about the use of technology to extend life expectancy among a sample of 31 well-educated people aged 50 and over.
Objective: To assess whether public understandings of inherited predisposition to colorectal cancer may undermine preparedness to respond to preventive messages. Methods: Structured in-depth interviews with 31 women and men, aged 50 years and over. Results: Most participants viewed genetic factors as prompts for taking preventive measures rather than as reasons for fatalism and inaction. They were optimistic about the potential benefits of new developments in cancer prevention and treatment. Conclusions: There was little evidence of perceived genetic determinism in relation to colorectal cancer, but there were some significant misunderstandings about causes, prevention and treatment. These findings have important implications for public health communications about the contribution of genetics to cancer causation.
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