8 Scientific Theories About Death

3. The Death Spiral

As well as being an excellent name for a black metal band, the Death Spiral is the term for the newly recognised "fourth stage of life" that precedes death. Scientists believe that it is "part of the process of genetically programmed death".

It is basically the stage before death in which both physical abilities and normal daily activities go into a steep decline. In a study of fruit flies, it was found that the flies entering the death spiral showed a decrease in fertility and stopped laying eggs. Interestingly, this decrease in fertility was the same regardless of the age of the fly, and was only seemingly related to the proximity of death. It's not a consequence of death, but a predictor.

In humans, measures of grip strength, ability to complete daily activities such as using the toilet, eating meals, and levels of cognitive impairment showed a distinct decline once participants entered the death spiral.

Whilst the researchers don't think that they would yet be able to use the knowledge of the death spiral to extend human lifespans, they believe that they could reduce its duration, vastly improving quality of life for people in their final days.