Britons terrified by death

Death is on many people's minds

Britons are a nation terrified by death, a survey suggests.

The poll carried out by New Scientist magazine found that 67% of British people are petrified by the prospect of dying.

Princess Diana was a popular choice to be brought back to life

It plays on the mind of one in five people so much that they think about death more than ten times a day.

The survey also found:

• Over 48% of people think they will live past 80 years old
• 10% of people think they will live past 100, whilst 4% think their days will be numbered before they reach 50.
• 33% of people would like to live past 100 years old
• 43% of people believe that life expectancy by the year 2100 will be over 100 12% believe we will live to over 120 22% of people believe in reincarnation
• 55% of people do not believe in a higher being
• 77% of people believe that science might advance enough so that one day cryonics may work

People who took part in the survey were asked who they would most like to see brought back to life.

The most popular choices were Einstein, Jesus and Princess Diana.

Bad attitude

Many people wanted Einstein to come back to life

Caroline Bradley, from the charity Research into Ageing, told BBC News Online that an obsession with death may help to hasten its arrival.

She said: "There is no clear proof, but there are signs that having a positive approach and outlook on life does have a positive impact both on length and quality of life."

Ms Bradley said a study of British centenarians had found that the majority were essentially positive people, who had identified sources of stress at an early stage of their lives, and then taken steps to minimise exposure to them.

A similar US study of centenarians identified seven key factors for a long life:

• a positive yet realistic attitude
• an adventurous love of life
• a strong will
• spiritual beliefs
• an ability to renegotiate life when necessary
• an insistence on aggressive medical care when necessary
• a sense of humour

A study of into why the inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa have the longest life expectancy in the world produced similar findings.

Women on the island can expect to live to 86, and men to 75.

Researchers concluded that while a healthy diet, and robust genes were factors, the serene Zen-type approach to life was also important.

New Scientist recently ran a competition for one reader to be frozen cryonically after their death.

The idea is that they can be thawed out at a later date when medical technology can bring them back to life.