This week, two Ohio State University researchers published an enormous study that refutes the commonly-held belief that terminally-ill people can will themselves to live until significant dates (eg birthdays, Christmas, etc) have passed. This is known as the Passover effect (due to one study involving observant Jews over the high religious holidays) and has been noted – anecdotally – for years.
The current study looked at 300,000 terminally ill cancer patients and charted their deaths statistically around their birthdays as well as around Christmas and Thanksgiving (as the two most important U.S. holidays). No significant dip or peak in death rates was found around any of these dates.
The researchers noted that their results fly in the face of anecdotal evidence, but state that there may be much wishful thinking involved in believing that people can live longer through sheer force of will. Some authors of previous studies (such as the Passover study mentioned above) scoff at these new results, but there seems to be a lot of “how dare these grinches publish this right before Christmas”-type criticism flying around.
But whether or not this current study is valid, the lead author, biostatistician Donn Young gives sage advice: ?I think the most important thing for all of us to take away from this is the notion of attending to what is important. In other words, don’t put off what is meaningful in life. Do it now, before it is too late.? Wise words indeed. Happy Holidays!
A lovely