The study probably assumes that people are healthy and relatively lucid until a few weeks before death. This is not always the case. A lot of seniors go through a horrible, painful period leading up to death. I’ve heard of numerous cases where they want to die, but their relatives or doctors want to try one more treatment.

Also, a good deal of seniors die with significant mental impairment. You’re talking serious deterioration. I’m not sure that marginal utility applies to a person who has forgotten how to swallow.

But, still, we all know of the person who doesn’t want to die, who hangs on and on, who fights letting go. And I think that life does get more precious as you age. Young people are too busy having kids and running their careers to contemplate end-of-life issues. It still seems like there is a lot of time.

But, time is relative. A human life span is 80 years, and the earth is how old? That really puts the last year in perspective. On the other hand, a butterfly lives for one summer. As Kurt Vonnegut would say, “So it goes.”