Longevity Science

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Greetings,

This is to invite you to comment here on new interview on aging and longevity studies, published recently by the 'Rejuvenation Research' journal:

Rejuvenation Research, 2009, 12(5): 371-374.
http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/rej.2009.0979
and:
http://health-studies.org/pdf/Interview-RR-2009.pdf

Any comments and suggestions are welcome!

Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions below by clicking here.

-- Leonid Gavrilov

---------------------------------
-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. , GSA Fellow
Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago
Website: http://longevity-science.org/
Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/
Our books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html

P.S.:
Also, here are some excerpts from this published interview (original non-edited text):

1. How, in general, can demographers contribute to the effort to develop medical treatments to combat aging?

There are several ways how human population studies could be very useful for efforts to extend healthy life span.

First, there is an area of biodemography - a science, which integrates biological knowledge with demographic approaches in attempt to understand the dynamics of vital events in human populations, including mortality and longevity [1-4]. Looking back at the history of science we can see that such important health findings as the discovery of long-term harmful effects of smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol levels and hyperglycemia all came from statistical (epidemiological) studies on human populations. These significant findings from population studies served as a guide and justification for subsequent development of specific medical treatments and health policies already saving many human lives now.

Looking forward at the future of biodemographic studies, we anticipate 'unraveling the secrets of human longevity' -- the discovery of determinants for exceptional human survival, which allow some individuals to delay dramatically many diseases of aging, and to live a remarkably healthy long life (sometimes beyond 100 years). When we find out why some people are so resilient to aging, these findings could serve as a guide and justification for development of new medical treatments and health policies to combat aging. To make this happen we developed a new research project 'Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity', which was recently awarded a grant from the U.S. National Institute on Aging, NIA. Information about the progress of this research project is continually updated at our scientific website 'Unraveling the secrets of human longevity' ( http://longevity-science.org/ ), and it is opened for comments and public discussion at our blog 'Longevity Science' ( http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/ ). Some preliminary findings on this topic are already published [5-7].

Second, there is an area of traditional demography, which has tools to make demographic projections for different scenarios of life extension. This is an important issue, because a common objection against starting a large-scale biomedical war on aging is the fear of catastrophic population consequences (overpopulation). This fear is only exacerbated by the fact that no detailed demographic projections for radical life extension scenario were published so far. What would happen with population numbers if aging-related deaths are significantly postponed or even eliminated? Is it possible to have a sustainable population dynamics in a future hypothetical non-aging society? These are important questions, which could be answered through traditional demographic studies.

Recently we made a new study, which explores different demographic scenarios and population projections, in order to clarify what could be the demographic consequences of a successful biomedical war on aging. The results of this study supported by the Methuselah and SENS foundations were presented at the SENS4 conference in Cambridge, UK, this September, and are expected to be published [8]. In brief, we found that defeating aging, the joy of parenting and sustainable population size are not mutually exclusive. This is an important point, because it can change the current public perception that life-extension necessarily leads to overpopulation. Amazingly, when we were returning back to the USA from the SENS4 conference in England, the passport control officer asked us exactly the same question about overpopulation during the interview about the purpose of our international travel! This example indicates how deep is the penetration of overpopulation scare in the fabrics of modern society, and hence how important are the demographic studies on this topic.

References

1. Curtsinger JW, Gavrilova NS, Gavrilov LA. Biodemography of Aging and Age-Specific Mortality in Drosophila melanogaster. In: Masoro E.J. & Austad S.N.. (eds.): Handbook of the Biology of Aging, Sixth Edition. Academic Press. San Diego, CA, USA, 2006, 261-288.

2. Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S., Olshansky S.J., Carnes B.A. Genealogical data and biodemography of human longevity. Social Biology, 2002, 49(3-4): 160-173.

3. Gavrilov, L.A., Gavrilova, N.S. Biodemographic study of familial determinants of human longevity. Population: An English Selection, 2001, 13(1): 197-222.

4. Gavrilova, N.S., Gavrilov, L.A. Data resources for biodemographic studies on familial clustering of human longevity. Demographic Research [Online], 1999, vol.1(4): 1-48. Available: http://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol1/4/

5. Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Can exceptional longevity be predicted? Contingencies [Journal of the American Academy of Actuaries], 2008, July/August issue, pp. 82-88.

6. Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Physical and Socioeconomic Characteristics at Young Age as Predictors of Survival to 100: A Study of a New Historical Data Resource (U.S. WWI Draft Cards). Living to 100 and Beyond: Survival at Advanced Ages [online monograph]. The Society of Actuaries, 2008, 23 pages.

7. Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity: Using Computerized Genealogies and Internet Resources for Human Longevity Studies. North American Actuarial Journal, 2007, 11(1): 49-67.

8. Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Demographic Consequences of Defeating Aging. [Meeting Abstract]. Rejuvenation Research, 2009, 12( Suppl. 1): 29-30.

-------------------------------------

Key words:
Rejuvenation Research, Interview, Overpopulation, Reliability Theory, Predictors of Exceptional Longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, ageing, aging, gerontology, longevity, centenarians, parental age

Home:
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Labels: ageing, aging, Centenarians, gerontology, Interview, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Natalia Gavrilova, Overpopulation, parental age, rejuvenation research, reliability theory

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Two Scientific Presentations on Longevity & Mortality in Detroit, May 1-2

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Dear All,

I am pleased to invite you to our two scientific presentations that will take place in Detroit on May 1 and 2.

Both scientific presentations will take place in Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48243 USA (Phone: 1-313-568-8000)

First presentation:

Friday, May 01, 2:30 PM
Room: Mackinac West

Mortality Measurement at Advanced Ages
by Leonid A. Gavrilov and Natalia S. Gavrilova
at PAA Session 130: Methodological Issues in Health and Mortality

To see Power-Point Presentation of this lecture click here:

http://longevity-science.org/Mortality-PAA-2009.ppt

Second presentation:

Saturday, May 02, 11:30 AM
Room: Richard B

Midlife Predictors of Exceptional Longevity:
A Study of the U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards
by Natalia S. Gavrilova and Leonid A. Gavrilov
at PAA Session 172: Early Life Conditions and Adult Health

To see Power-Point Presentation of this lecture click here:

http://longevity-science.org/Centenarians-PAA-2009.ppt

Looking forward to see you there!

Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions below by clicking here.

Key words:
Mortality Measurement, Advanced Ages, Predictors of Exceptional Longevity, Detroit, Scientific Presentations, PAA, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, ageing, aging, gerontology, longevity, centenarians

Home:
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Two Scientific Presentations on Longevity & Mortality in Detroit, May 1-2
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Labels: Advanced Ages, aging, Centenarians, Detroit, gerontology, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, mortality, Natalia Gavrilova, PAA, Predictors of Exceptional Longevity, Scientific Presentations

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Call to Danish Colleagues

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Greetings,

We will be in Denmark on May 26 - 29, and we would be delighted to meet Danish colleagues interested in aging and longevity studies.

If you are one of them, please contact us at:

gavrilov@longevity-science.org

This is our first trip to Denmark, but we have some prior experience of giving invited lectures in Canada, France, Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Russia, Malaysia, and of course in the United States:

http://longevity-science.org/invited_talks.html

We would be glad to find some people in Denmark interested in aging and longevity studies for possible contacts.

We are invited to REVES meeting on 'Reducing Gaps in Health Expectancy' in Copenhagen, starting on May 26 and until May 29 (please see conference program attached below).

Looking forward to hear from you!

Kind regards,

-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D.:
http://longevity-science.org/CV-gavrilov.htm

-- Natalia Gavrilova, Ph.D.:
http://longevity-science.org/CV-gavrilova.htm

--------------

The 21st REVES conference in Copenhagen 2009

Programme

26 May
Optional training session, 10.00‐15.00
Software for multistate calculations: Hands on SAS session for CI estimation; Bayesian method for HE calculation

Conference 27 - 29 May: Reducing gaps in health expectancy

Except for the concept and methods session (session 5), the presenters will be given 20 minutes each (including discussion).

27 May
8.00‐9.00 Registration
9.00‐9.15 Welcome remarks
9.15‐10.45 Session 1: Harmonization and International comparisons
Chair: Y Saito
- C Jagger, JM Robine, H Van Oyen and the EHLEIS team. A comparison of health expectancies in the EU25: results from the EHLEIS project.
- O Ekholm and H Brønnum‐Hansen. Cross‐national comparisons of non‐harmonized Healthy Life Years indicators may lead to more confusion than clarification.
- NK Rasmussen. Cross cultural comparability of questionnaire based data used for health expectancy calculations.
- M Smith and C White. An investigation into the impact of question change on estimates of general health status and healthy life expectancy in the United Kingdom.
10.45‐11.00 Break

11.00‐12.30 Session 2: Gender
Chair: DJH Deeg
- WJ Nusselder. Decomposition of gender differences in Healthy Life Years.
- H Van Oyen, B Cox, JM Robine and C Jagger for the EHEMU‐team. Patterns in gender gaps in the EU.
- L Frova, A Battisti and A Burgio. Are gaps in disability free life expectancies reducing in Italy?
- RS Goyal. Whether the poverty of women in childhood and adult ages affect their health disability status in later years?

12.30‐14.00 Lunch at Simplycooking, CSS

14.00‐15.45 Session 3: Methods – measures, models, simulations
Chair: MD Hayward
- A Andreotti, N Minicuci, P Kowal and S Chatterji. Multidimensional profiles of health status: An application of the grade of membership model to the World Health Survey.
- F Matthews and A van den Hout. The shape of life and healthy life expectancies.
- X Liu, CC Engel, H Kang and KL Gore. Reducing selection bias in analyzing longitudinal health data with high mortality rates.
- SD Grosse, VA Campbell and G Krahn. Disability or desirability‐adjusted life expectancies? How to interpret Health Adjusted Life Expectancies.
- L Cai. Health‐adjusted value of health care spending on the elderly in the United States, 1992‐2002.

15.45‐16.00 Break

16.00‐17.30 Session 4: Projections, forecasts and scenarios
Chair: H Brønnum‐Hansen
- D Banham. Targeting health expectancy gaps in South Australia.
- M Lagergren, M Thorslund and M Parker. Revised projections of the development of LTC costs in Sweden 2005‐ 2040.
- R Matthews, C Jagger and MRC CFAS. Trends in disease and how they will impact on disability in the older population.
- KJ Anstey and the DYNOPTA collaborators. Pooling longitudinal studies of ageing for epidemiological analysis and to model health futures: the DYNOPTA project.

19.0 Conference dinner at “Spiseloppen”, Christiania (Bådsmandsstræde 43, 2.th. 1407, København K)

28 May
9.00‐11.30 Session 5: Basic concepts and methods
Chair: JM Robine
- K Avlund. How to measure disability, the disablement process and early signs of disability
- C Mathers. The disability process and WHO classification systems, past and future
- Discussion
- Break
- F Matthews. Estimation and statistically considerations
- Y Saito. Software overview

11.30‐14.30 Lunch at Statens Museum for Kunst, National Art Gallery (Sølvgade 48‐50, 1307, København K)
14.30‐15.30 George Myers lecture by James W Vaupel
15.30‐15.45 Break

15.45‐17.15 Session 6: Oldest old and healthy aging
Chair: B Jeune

- LA Gavrilov and NS Gavrilova. Physical characteristics at the midlife and survival to age 100: A study of American men.

- H Engberg, A Oksuzyan, B Jeune, JW Vaupel and K Christensen. Healthy aging in Danish centenarians – a 29 year follow‐up of hospitalizations among 40,000 Danes in the 1905 birth cohort.
- T Sarkeala, M Vuorisalmi, A Hervonen and M Jylhä. Functional status among Finnish nonagenarians in 1996‐2007: Vitality 90+ Study, Tampere.
- VM Shkolnikov, EM Andreev, P Demakakos, A Oksuzyan, K Christensen, MA Shkolnikova and JW Vaupel. Patterns of grip strength in Moscow as compared to Denmark and England.

17.15‐17.30 Break

17.30‐18.30 Session 7: Trends I
Chair: F Matthews
- JW Bruggink. Health expectancies in the Netherlands since 1981.
- CH Van Gool, HSJ Picavet, DJH Deeg, MMY de Klerk, WJ Nusselder, MPJ van Boxtel A Wong and N Hoeymans. Trends in late‐life activity limitations: The Dutch population between 1990 and 2007.
- SL Reynolds and EM Crimmins. Trends in the ability to work among the older US working population, 1997‐2007.

29 May

9.00‐10.45 Session 8: Social, ethnic and other differences
Chair: SL Reynolds
- DC Brown, MD Hayward, JK Montez, MM Hidajat and RA Hummer. The significance of education for rectangularization of the survival curve in the United States.
- R Wilkins. The Canadian census mortality follow‐up study: a new resource for the study of socioeconomic disparities health expectancies.
- K Knoops, JW Bruggink and M van den Brakel. Healthy life expectancy and socio‐economical status in the Netherlands.
- A Burlison. Healthy life expectancy in Scotland.
- Z Zimmer, M Wen and T Kaneda. A multi‐level analysis of urban versus rural differences in functional status transition among older Chinese.

10.45‐11.00 Break

11.00‐12.45 Session 9: Risk factors and chronic diseases
Chair: WJ Nusselder
- L Bonneux, M Reuser and F Willekens. Disability trajectories and life style. A longer life in good health is closed by a longer period in more severe disability.
- B Klijs. Contribution of chronic diseases to the burden of disability in the Netherlands.
- R Ham‐Chande. Demographic structures and aging at the MX‐US border: Social and economic effects on health expectancies and care.
- EM León Diaz and M Gómez. Perception of health of older adults, Havana Cuba. Socio‐demographic and health determinants associated by sex.
- N Brouard, M Espagnacq, JF Ravaud and the Tetrafigap group. Life expectancy of tetraplegic spinal cord injured individuals in France: a ten years follow‐up.

12.45‐14.00 Lunch at Simplycooking, CSS

14.00‐15.00 Session 10: Trends II
Chair: R Wilkins
- LH Chen. Disability‐free life expectancy trends in Taiwan: Compression, expansion or dynamic equilibrium.
- SLK Cheung and SFP Yip. Are we heading to the compression of disability? The case of Hong Kong SAR, 1984‐2008.
- I Pool, W Boddington, J Cheung and R Didham. Differential trends in mortality compression: Assessing the antecedents to gaps in health expectancy in New Zealand.

15.00‐15.30 Closing ceremonies

---------------

Key words:
Denmark, Invited Lectures, REVES, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, ageing, aging, geriatrics, gerontology, longevity, centenarians

Home:
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Labels: ageing, aging, Centenarians, Denmark, geriatrics, gerontology, Invited Lectures, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Natalia Gavrilova, REVES

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

An Unusual Source of Inspiration

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Greetings,

I wonder what kinds of inspiration do you have in your life and research activities? Is it a great music, inspiring picture, absorbing book, scenic views, and/or a significant other?

Recently I have encountered a new unusual source of inspiration -- the NIH Summary Statement! Usually it is considered to be a bureaucratic document, which summarizes the results of a closed discussion of your research proposal by the panel of experts at the National Institute of Health, NIH. Typically this is a candid anonymous review, which is often painful to read to a scientist, the author of the reviewed proposal.

However, this time things are completely different. Our new research project was thoroughly evaluated by a review panel of 20 experts at NIH and the project was rated as being among the best 5 percent of all approved (scored) applications. Here is what they wrote (excerpts):

Summary Statement for Project "Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity in the United States"

Resume and Summary of Discussion:

"This ... application, by an eminent investigator, would use a variety of modeling methods to determine the social and biological factors linked to living to age 100. This is a major question for all fields of aging research. It is highly innovative application because it is going to examine a large relatively representative sample of those who reach 100. The approach is well-suited to the aims of the project. ... Strengths of the application include the significance of the aims, an innovative and carefully considered research design, a solid research team, supporting pilot research and well specified analytical methods. "

Critique 1:

Significance:
"This ... application, addresses early life covariates of extreme longevity in the U.S. This is a significant research topic with potential implications for health intervention in premature mortality and the proposed research could provide important confirmation, or refutation, of many theorized early life covariates of longevity."

Approach:
".... this is an innovative application utilizes genealogical, census, social-security, Internet and military data in a well crafted research design. "

Innovation:
"The application is an innovative one with a creative sample construction."

Investigators:
"This is an outstanding research team with an eminent Principal Investigator."

Overall Evaluation:
"This ... application, by an eminent investigator, would use a variety of modeling methods to study the effect of early life course circumstances on cases of extreme longevity in the United States. Strengths of the application include the significance of the aims, an innovative and carefully considered research design, a solid research team, supporting pilot research and well specified analytical methods."

Critique 2:

Significance:
"... a highly significant application. The project addresses important questions with an extremely innovative approach. Why some people live to 100 and others do not has been a focus of much NIA research, although much of this longevity research has been performed on other species. This application will provide increased understanding of how humans survive to very old ages using representative populations."

Approach:
"This application is harnessing the resources available on the Internet to address a very important scientific question. How do both social and biological factors affect the likelihood of living to very old age. The investigators have an unusually thorough command of both biological and the social literature appropriate to this question. The project will result in the examination of about 3,000 centenarians. Information on their early, adult, and later life is available. The combination of Census, Army, and Genealogical data is truly exciting. In addition, areal level data will be appended which has not been done before in analyses of long lives."

Innovation:
"The project is quite exciting because of the careful planning behind the proposed collection of available data in a novel way to address an important question which has not been well-addresses to date."

Investigators:
"This is an excellent team. The Principal Investigator, Leonid Gavrilov, is well-recognized as a biologist but he has made remarkable strides in becoming very multidisciplinary through the mechanism of a K award. The co Principal Investigator, Gavrilova, is also well-recognized as a biologist with many important publications related to the project. She, too, has undertaken recent training by getting a master's in computer science from the University of Chicago. This application builds on this strength in its approach to data collection."

Overall Evaluation:
"This is ... application with the major goals of determining social and biological factors linked to living to 100. This is a highly significant area because this is a major question for all fields of aging research. The approach is well-suited to the aims of the project. It is highly innovative application because it is going to examine a large relatively representative sample of those who reach 100. The major strengths of the application are its innovative use of publicly available data."

Critique 4:

Significance:
"This application will attempt to identify early life characteristics, which are associated with extreme long life. This is a highly significant issue. It has significant potential, depending upon the variables identified, to inform public health policy concerning longevity."

Innovation:
"This is an innovative study. It will assemble a unique data set concerning the early life characteristics of the elderly and a set of "controls". This will be a unique and useful resource for analysis of early life effects on mortality.

Investigators:
"This is an excellent research team. Gavrilov and Gavrilova are both productive and experienced researchers in the area of human aging."

Environment:
"The environment at the University of Chicago is excellent."

Overall Evaluation:
"This is ... application by an eminent research team that will assemble and analyze a unique data set concerning early life conditions on extreme longevity. In particular, the study will focus on socio economic factors and height and build. The analysis is well described and theoretically justified for the most part."

==================

So we have now a new awarded research project of certified high scientific merit, and we are open to collaboration on this new NIH Longevity Study !

Please feel free to post your comments and suggestions below by clicking here.

Key words:
Inspiration, NIH Summary Statement, Longevity, centenarians, biodemography, NIH, NIA, longevity genes, parental age, birth order, early-life living conditions, adult physical characteristics, reproductive history, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, Center on Aging, United States, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Social Security Administration datasets, Census data, family reconstitutions, genealogies, military draft records, early-life childhood conditions.

Home:
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Longevity Science: An Unusual Source of Inspiration
Shorter weblink:
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and
http://tinyurl.com/NIH-approved

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Labels: Biodemography, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, birth order, Centenarians, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, longevity genes, Natalia Gavrilova, NIA, NIH, parental age

Monday, February 23, 2009

Project Win Announcements - Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Greetings,

Here is an interesting announcement from the President's Office of the National Opinion Research Center, NORC, at the University of Chicago:

--------------
From: President's Office
To: SP-All NORC Employees
Subject: Project Win Announcements - Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity

Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity

Senior Vice President and Director of the Academic Research Centers, is pleased to announce that NORC will study why people live to be 100 years or older.

The new study Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity in the United States is led co-investigators Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova, Research Associates in NORC’s Center on Aging. This husband-and-wife team has written extensively on extreme longevity. Their work has recently shown that longevity can be linked to a mother’s age at her child’s birth, birthplace within in the United States and family socioeconomic background.

The investigators will look at effects of early-life conditions, adult physical characteristics, and marriage and reproductive history on exceptional longevity. The new study takes advantage of U.S. Census and Social Security Administration data, genealogies, and military draft records. Researchers at the universities of Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin will also collaborate.

The project plan’s innovative use of data was called “exciting” by one of the reviewers at the sponsoring National Institute on Aging. Reviewers also commented favorably on other aspects, notably the strength of the research team and the overall significance of the project aims. The proposal was rated as being among the top 5 percent of all scored proposals reviewed by the NIH.

To read more about the Gavrilovs longevity studies, visit their scientific website at http://longevity-science.org/ ; also you can post your questions and comments at their discussion blog at: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/

----------------------------------------------

Key words:
Longevity, centenarians, biodemography, NIH, NIA, longevity genes, parental age, birth order, early-life living conditions, adult physical characteristics, reproductive history, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, Center on Aging, United States, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Social Security Administration datasets, Census data, family reconstitutions, genealogies, military draft records, early-life childhood conditions, National Opinion Research Center, NORC, University of Pennsylvania, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Home:
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Links to this post:

- Longevity study to be conducted by the National Opinion Research Center

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Labels: Biodemography, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Centenarians, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Natalia Gavrilova, National Opinion Research Center, NIA, NIH, NIH grant, NORC

Monday, February 09, 2009

News Release: How Does One Reach 100? Chicago Researchers Will Study Determinants of Human Longevity

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

News Release from the Chicago University News Office:

How does one reach 100?
Research team will work toward identifying longevity determinants in NIH study
The University of Chicago Chronicle, February 5, 2009, Vol. 28 No. 9, page 3
http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/090205/study.shtml

-------------------------------------

Full text:

How does one reach 100?
Research team will work toward identifying longevity determinants in NIH study

By William Harms
w-harms@uchicago.edu
News Office

The National Opinion Research Center will study why people live to be 100 years or older through a five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging.

Previous research has shown that a number of factors can lead to a person being two or three times more likely to live to extreme old age, said Leonid Gavrilov, Research Associate at the Center on Aging at NORC. The new project, “Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity in the United States,” will build on that work, he said. Gavrilov and his wife Natalia, also a Research Associate at NORC, are co-investigators on the project.

“This project will investigate why some people manage to survive to extreme old age and help identify the biological and social correlates of exceptional longevity,” Gavrilov explained. “We hope to find out the determinants of human longevity and to get insights into mechanisms and causes of long life.

“These are important issues, not only for demographic forecasts of human mortality and population aging, but also for improving our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of human aging and longevity.”

Centenarians are one of the most rapidly growing segments of the U.S. population, according to the National Institute on Aging. The number of centenarians is growing at a rate of 4.1 percent per year; the numbers increased 51 percent between 1990 and 2000.

The new study will take advantage of U.S. Census and Social Security Administration data, genealogies and military draft records. Gavrilov will look at early-life conditions, adult physical characteristics, and marriage and reproductive history on exceptional longevity.

Gavrilov and his wife have written extensively on extreme longevity. Their work has recently shown that longevity can be linked to a mother’s age at her child’s birth, birthplace within in the United States and family socioeconomic background.

Babies born to mothers under age 25 were twice as likely to live to 100 years of age, compared to infants born to mothers 25 or older. Farmers tend to outlive others, and men who fathered more than four children by the time they were 30 also live longer, research found.

The potential impact on exceptional longevity of early-life living conditions shows that environmental and behavioral factors cannot be overlooked in longevity studies Gavrilov said.

“Even the search for ‘human longevity genes’ could be facilitated when powerful confounding effects of childhood environment are taken into account,” he said.

Gavrilov will collaborate with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

To read more about the Gavrilovs’ longevity studies, visit http://longevity-science.org.

----------------------------------------------------

Key words:
Longevity, centenarians, biodemography, NIH, NIA, longevity genes, parental age, birth order, early-life living conditions, adult physical characteristics, reproductive history, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, Center on Aging, United States, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Social Security Administration datasets, Census data, family reconstitutions, genealogies, military draft records, early-life childhood conditions, National Opinion Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Home:
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and
News Release: How Does One Reach 100? Chicago Researchers Will Study Determinants of Human Longevity
Shorter weblink:
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Labels: Biodemography, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Centenarians, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, longevity genes, Natalia Gavrilova, NIA, NIH, NIH grant, parental age

Thursday, January 08, 2009

New NIH Longevity Study

See also:
-- 'Books Forum' blog
-- 'Health Studies' blog

Greetings,

Here are some really good news for the New Year 2009:

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have awarded us with a new 5-year research grant to study the mechanisms of human longevity!

Moreover, when this new research project was thoroughly evaluated by a review panel of 20 experts at NIH, the project was rated as being among the best 5 percent of all approved (scored) applications.

The details of this new award are now publicly available through CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects), a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects, by clicking here, or through this weblink: http://tinyurl.com/9th6jx

Here are some slightly edited excerpts:

Project Title:
Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity in the United States

Abstract:

This project proposes to investigate why some people manage to survive to extreme old age (100+ years) and what are the biological and social correlates of exceptional longevity. These are important issues not only for demographic forecasts of human mortality and population aging, and the policy implications on health-care and pension expenditures, but also for improving our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of human aging and longevity.

The project will take advantage of the ongoing revolution in information technology for human longevity studies to examine the determinants of exceptional survival both on individual and population levels, using a rich variety of the U.S. data sources available through the Internet, including Social Security Administration datasets, Census data, family reconstitutions and validated genealogies, and military draft records.

Recent findings from the Principal Investigator's pilot study of U.S. centenarians, funded by the Chicago Center on Aging and the Society of Actuaries, suggest that differences in chances of exceptional survival as large as two or three times can be linked to early-life circumstances, such as mother's age at person's birth, person's birth order, birth place within the United States, and family socioeconomic background.

The plasticity of exceptional longevity in response to early-life living conditions indicates that environmental and behavioral factors cannot be overlooked in longevity studies. Even the search for "human longevity genes" could be facilitated when powerful confounding effects of childhood environment are taken into account. This project therefore proposes to explore the effects of early-life living conditions, adult physical characteristics, marriage, and reproductive history on exceptional longevity, and will test a number of related biomedical and social hypotheses.

The project is designed as an interdisciplinary study of exceptional human longevity. To contribute to the research infrastructure for subsequent longevity studies world-wide, the Principal Investigator will also develop a database with integrated, matched information on longevity predictor variables, and make it available to the research community on the Internet. The project will allow establishing scientific collaboration of the Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago with other researchers to study the biodemography of exceptional longevity in an interdisciplinary context.

Public Health Relevance:

Demographic aging of the United States has profound public health implications, particularly because centenarians (people living to 100 and beyond) represent one of the most rapidly growing segments of the U.S. population. This study advances understanding of biological, social and environmental factors that favor survival to extreme old ages, including early-life childhood conditions, and it has implications for public health policy, population forecasting and health planning.

So we have now an approved research project of certified high scientific merit, and we are open to collaboration on this new NIH Longevity Study !

Please post your comments and suggestions below by clicking here.

Key words:
Longevity, centenarians, biodemography, NIH, NIA, longevity genes, parental age, birth order, early-life living conditions, adult physical characteristics, reproductive history, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, Center on Aging, United States, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Social Security Administration datasets, Census data, family reconstitutions, genealogies, military draft records, early-life childhood conditions.

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Labels: Biodemography, Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity, birth order, Centenarians, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, longevity genes, Natalia Gavrilova, NIA, NIH, parental age

Thursday, January 03, 2008

International Symposium on Survival to Advanced Ages: "Living to 100"

Greetings,

I am pleased to share with you the program of the upcoming scientific International Symposium on Survival to Advanced Ages: "Living to 100".

This International Symposium brings together longevity experts from USA, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other countries.

The Symposium is organized by the Society of Actuaries and will take place in Florida on January 7-9, 2008 at the following address:

Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort
1751 Hotel Plaza Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista
Florida 32830
USA

Hope to see you there soon: our two presentations there will take place on Tuesday, January 8 (see Program below):

Symposium Program

Day 1, Monday, January 7

8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks and Keynote Speaker
Symposium Co–Chairperson: Robert J. Johansen
SOA President: Bruce D. Schobel

Opening Keynote Presentation:

Aging Research–Past, Present, and Future
Cynthia Kenyon, American Cancer Society Professor and Director of Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging, University of California, San Francisco, California

10:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
General Session 1, Implications of Longer Life Spans: What Does This All Mean to Us?

Moderator: Anna M. Rappaport, Anna Rappaport Consulting, Chicago, Illinois

Panelists:
Timothy F. Harris, Principal, Milliman Inc., St. Louis, Missouri;
Dawn E. Helwig, Principal, Milliman Inc.,Chicago, Illinois
Valerie A. Paganelli, Senior Consulting Actuary, Paganelli Consulting, Seattle, Washington
David K. Sandberg, VP & Corporate Actuary, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Steven G. Vernon, President, Rest–of–Life Communications, Oxnard, California

1:50 p.m.–3:35 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 1

1A, Distinguishing Health Status For Advanced Ages

Moderator:
Craig M. Baldwin, MAAA Vice President Transamerica Reinsurance Charlotte, North Carolina

Panelists:
Faye S. Albert, MAAA President Albert Associates Miami, Florida
Thomas Ashley, FACP Vice President and Chief Medical Director Gen Re LifeHealth Stamford, Connecticut
Robert Gleeson, FACP Vice President & Medical Director Northwestern Mutual Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Stephen K. Holland, Senior Vice President & Medical Director Long–Term Care Group, Inc. Natick, Massachusetts

1B, Perspectives on a Changing Global Retirement Paradigm

Discussant:
J. Bruce MacDonald, Consulting Actuary, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Papers:

Living to 100 and Beyond in Canada with Dignity
Doug Andrews, PhD Candidate, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Micro Pension Plan: Indian Perspective
Prakash Bhattacharya, Bengal College of Engineering and Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India

Retirement and Retirement Ages in Canada Revisited
Brian L. Burnell, Burnell Actuarial Consulting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

3:50 p.m.–5:35 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 2

2A, Demographic Implications of Aging Populations Internationally

Discussant:
John W. Paddon, Consulting Actuary, Convent Station, New Jersey

Papers:

Challenges on Improved Life Spans in India–The Actuarial Implications
N. V. Subramanyan, Manager–Business Analysis, HSBC Software Development India, Kalyaninagar, Pune, India

Economic Sustainability of Retirement Pensions in Mexico: Is There a Link with the Mexican-Origin Population in the U.S.?
Roberto Ham–Chande, Researcher, Department of Population Studies, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, Mexico

Income Inequality and Life Expectancy: New Evidence
Robert L. Brown, Professor, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Steven G. Prus, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

2B, Emerging Definitions of Retirement

Moderator:
Anna M. Rappaport, Anna Rappaport Consulting, Chicago, Illinois

Panelists:
Doug Andrews, PhD Candidate, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Steven Haberman, Deputy Dean, Cass Business School, City University, London, England
Valerie A. Paganelli, Senior Consulting Actuary, Paganelli Consulting, Seattle, Washington
Anna M. Rappaport, Anna Rappaport Consulting, Chicago, Illinois
Steven G. Vernon, President, Rest–of–Life Communications, Oxnard, California

=========================================

Day 2, Tuesday, January 8

8:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m.
General Session 2, Social Insurance Perspectives and Implications

Moderator and Discussant:
Sam Gutterman, Director and Consulting Actuary, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chicago, Illinois

Panelists:
Adrian P. Gallop, Government Actuary's Department, London, England
Jean-Claude Menard, Chief Actuary, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Alice H. Wade, Deputy Chief Actuary, Long Range, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland

10:00 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions 3

3A, Social Insurance Follow–up: Methodologies and Implications

Moderator:
J. Bruce MacDonald, Consulting Actuary, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Panelists:
Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland
Danita L. Pattemore, Actuarial Officer, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Alvin K. Winters, Actuary, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland

3B, Quality of Life of Elderly

Discussant:
Deborah Briceland–Betts, National Director Women's Programs, AARP Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Papers:
Living to 100–A Woman's Issue
Anna M. Rappaport, Anna Rappaport Consulting, Chicago, Illinois

Evaluation of Approaches to Reducing Women's Longevity Risk
Beverly J. Orth, Principal, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Portland, Oregon

Estimates of the Incidence, Prevalence, Duration, Intensity, and Cost of Chronic Disability among the U.S. Elderly
Eric Stallard, Research Professor, Department of Sociology and Associate Director, Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

11:55 p.m.–1:40 p.m.
Luncheon with Speaker

Luncheon Presentation: The MacArthur Initiative on an Aging Society: Population Forecasts for the U.S.
S. Jay Olshansky, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

1:50 p.m.–3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 4

4A, New Models of Advanced Age Mortality
Discussant:
Thomas P. Edwalds, Assistant Vice President, Mortality Research, Munich American Reassurance Co, Chicago, Illinois

Papers:
Inference for Logistic–type Models for the Force of Mortality
Louis G. Doray, Professor, Department of Math and Statistics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Predictive Modeling for Advanced Age Mortality
Lijia Guo, Principal Financial Engineer/Actuary, Algorithmics Inc., Newton, Massachusetts

4B, Mortality Measurement and Prediction

Discussant:
Elizabeth Arias, Health Scientist, Mortality Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland

Papers:
Mortality Measurement at Advanced Ages: A Study of the Social Security Administration Death Master File
Leonid A. Gavrilov, Research Associate of the Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois Natalia S. Gavrilova, Research Associate of the Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Typology and Review of Measures of Human Aging, Longevity and Superlongevity, with Applications to U.S. Data and Some Implications for U.S. Public Programs
Jacob S. Siegel, Demographic Consultant, J. Stuart Siegel Demographic Services, North Bethesda, Maryland

3:30 p.m.–4:55 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions 5

5A, Longevity Risk Pricing

Discussant:
Michael L. Kaster, Senior Consultant, Watson Wyatt Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Papers:
Living to 100: Survival to Advanced Ages: Insurance Industry Implication on Retirement Planning and the Secondary Market in Insurance
Jay Vadiveloo, Professor and Director of the Deloitte–University of Connecticut Actuarial Center and Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Hartford, Connecticut
Peng Zhou, Investment Officer, Sun Life Financial, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts,
Charles Vinsonhaler, Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
Sudath Ranasinghe, PhD Candidate, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut

Longevity Risk Pricing
Jiajia Cui, PhD Candidate, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands

5B, Prediction from Data

Discussant:
Joseph Lu, Senior Actuary, Synesis Life, London, England

Papers:
Data Validation and Measurement of Cohort Mortality among Centenarians in Quebec (Canada) According to Place of Birth and Ethnic Origin
Melissa Beaudry–Godin, PhD Candidate, Department of Demography, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Robert Bourbeau, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Demography, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bertrand Desjardins, Researcher, Department of Demography, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Physical and Socio-Economic Characteristics at Young Age as Predictors of Survival to 100. A study of a new historical data resource (the US WWI draft cards)
Natalia S. Gavrilova, Research Associate of the Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Leonid A. Gavrilov, Research Associate of the Center Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

==========================================

Day 3, Wednesday, January 9

8:00 a.m.–9:15 a.m.
General Session 3, Biological Perspectives on Aging

Discussant:
Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland

Papers:
Entropy Explains Aging, Genetic Determinism Explains Longevity, and Undefined Terminology Explains Misunderstanding Both
Leonard Hayflick, Professor of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, California

9:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions 6

6A, Projection and Statistical Modeling of Mortality at Late Age

Discussant:
W. Ward Kingkade, Statistician/Demographer, Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington D.C.

Papers:
On Simulation-Based Approaches to Risk Measurement in Mortality with Specific Reference to Binomial Lee-Carter Modeling
Steven Haberman, Professor of Actuarial Science and Deputy Dean, Cass Business School, City University, London, England
Arthur Renshaw, Cass Business School, City University, London, England

A Study of the Lee–Carter Model with a Jump
Jack C. Yue, Professor, Department of Statistics, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
Sharon S. Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Mathematics, College of Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
Hong–Chih Huang, Assistant Professor, Department of Risk Management and Insurance, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan

Testing Deterministic Versus Stochastic Trends in the Lee–Carter Mortality Indexes and Its Implications for Projecting Mortality Improvements at Advanced Ages
Wai–Sum Chan, Professor, Department of Finance, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
Siu–Hang Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Siu–Hung Cheung, Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China

6B, Health Status and Its Impact on Mortality

Discussant:
S. Jay Olshansky, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Papers:
Health Expectancy
Faye S. Albert, President, Albert Associates, Miami, Florida
James C. Brooks, Actuarial Consultant, John M Bragg & Associates Inc., Marietta, Georgia
John M. Bragg, Chairman, John M Bragg & Associates Inc., Atlanta, Georgia

Human Behaviour: An Impediment toward Future Mortality Improvement
Sam Gutterman, Director & Consulting Actuary, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chicago, Illinois

Health, Wealth and Wisdom–Living Long, Living Well
Michael J. Cowell, Yarmouth, Maine

11:25 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Closing Remarks

Symposium Co–Chairperson: Robert J. Johansen
Symposium Co–Chairperson: Timothy F. Harris,
Committee on Living to 100 Research Symposia Member: Sam Gutterman,

-------------THE END ----------------------------

Source: Click here

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http://tinyurl.com/yuydjt

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Labels: Actuarial, actuaries, Advanced Ages, aging, Centenarians, Leonid Gavrilov, Life Expectancy, longevity, mortality, Natalia Gavrilova

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Meeting in San Francisco, November 16-20

Greetings,

Just curious whether some readers of our blog are going to attend the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) meeting in San Francisco this November 16-20 ?

Perhaps we could meet there in person. The meeting will be at Hilton San Francisco, 333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. We have two presentations there:

Saturday, November 17:
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Room: Imperial Ballroom
Poster: Middle-Life Predictors of Human Longevity

Monday, November 19:
1:30 - 3:00pm, Room: Union Square 13
Symposium "Quantitative Approaches to Aging and Exceptional Longevity"
Talk: New Findings on Human Longevity Predictors

For more details, see the coverage of our upcoming GSA talks by Daily Telegraph:

Stay trim and have children to be 100
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 14/11/2007

The secret of living to 100 is to take up farming, have lots of children and stay trim but not thin, scientists claim.

Researchers studied the health records of dozens of centenarians to find out why they had lived so long.

They discovered that not eating too much, but also not eating too little, was key to a long life, as was having more than four children by the age of 30 and working on the land.

"This study provides the first estimates of height, body build and other vital characteristics for the future centenarian," said the husband and wife team Leonid and Natalia Gavrilov, from the Centre on Ageing at the University of Chicago.

The couple will disclose the details of their findings to a meeting of the Gerontological Society of America in San Francisco next week.

The study involved analysing the records of 171 men born in 1887 who reached the age of 100.

Dr Gavrilov said: "Our initial expectation was that thin people would live longer.

"But it really does not do much, compared with medium body build. There is no need to suffer."

----------

Hope to see you soon at this GSA Meeting!

Best wishes,

--------------------
-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D.
Website: http://longevity-science.org/
Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/
My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
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Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Meeting in San Francisco, November 16-20
Shorter weblink:
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Labels: Centenarians, Gerontological Society of America, GSA, Leonid Gavrilov, Life Span, longevity, Natalia Gavrilova

Sunday, November 04, 2007

International Workshop on Human Longevity -- Register Today!

Greetings,

This is to cordially invite you to attend the upcoming International Workshop on Human Longevity, which brings together experts from the United States, Malaysia, Spain, Greece, Australia and other countries. This will be a friendly meeting at relaxed academic retreat with great opportunities for broad interesting discussions -- so register today! No papers or formal presentations are required from you, and you will have an opportunity to participate in a general discussion, if you wish. Some more information about this meeting and registration details are provided below:

This International Workshop on Human Longevity will take place in Malaysia on November 26-27, 2007, and it is organized by the major Malaysian University ("Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- UKM"), Department of Science & Technology.

For more details, please see:

http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppsmfst/icoms/Longevity_wshop2007_poster2.pdf
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/3xgsfj

Some excerpts:

" This workshop is intended to provide a broad overview of bio-demographic ideas, models, methods, and findings regarding human aging, mortality and longevity incorporating interdisciplinary approach. The aims are to bridge the gap between biological, mathematical and social sciences as well as nurturing the understanding and collaboration amongst the regional and global human longevity scientists and practitioners. Besides that, it also aims to demonstrate the vital role of understanding the mechanisms of aging and longevity and to extend healthy and productive human lifespan. The workshop will include several sessions and discussions on longevity, demography, genetic factors and others. We cordially invite academicians, researchers, scientists and interested parties to join this event in the serene campus of Bangi, Malaysia. We are also proud to inform you that 2007 is the official Visit Malaysia Year ! "

For additional details see also the Workshop Brochure:

http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppsmfst/icoms/Longevity_wshop2007_broc2.pdf
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/2kj4bp

Registration for this International Workshop is opened on the first-come, first-served basis, with limited number of places available. Therefore consider to register now, to make sure that you will not miss this scientific and educational brain-storming networking event!

This is also a great opportunity to take your family members with you for retreat and vacation in an exotic Asian country of Malaysia at the serene campus of Bangi there. Here are some pictures of a meeting place:

http://longevity-science.org/Malaysia-2007.pdf

Hope to see you there!

Contact address of the Organizing Committee for further enquiries:

Secretariat
Workshop on Human Longevity (WHL'07)
c/o School of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-8921 5713 / 5714
Fax: +603-8925 4519
E-mail: icms07@gmail.com
seminarppsm@lycos.com

Home:
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International Workshop on Human Longevity -- Register Today!
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/3ybzhn

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Labels: actuarial studies, Biodemography, Centenarians, Exceptional Human Longevity, human longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Malaysia, Natalia Gavrilova

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Longevity Workshop -- Submit Abstracts by this Friday, October 26 !

Greetings,

This is just a friendly reminder about approaching deadline (this Friday, October 26) for abstracts submission to the International workshop on Human Longevity, in case you may be interested.

This International Workshop on Human Longevity will take place in Malaysia on November 26-27, 2007, and it is organized by the major Malaysian University ("Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- UKM"), Department of Science & Technology.

For more details, please see:

http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppsmfst/icoms/Longevity_wshop2007_poster2.pdf
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/3xgsfj

Some excerpts:

" This workshop is intended to provide a broad overview of bio-demographic ideas, models, methods, and findings regarding human aging, mortality and longevity incorporating interdisciplinary approach. The aims are to bridge the gap between biological, mathematical and social sciences as well as nurturing the understanding and collaboration amongst the regional and global human longevity scientists and practitioners. Besides that, it also aims to demonstrate the vital role of understanding the mechanisms of aging and longevity and to extend healthy and productive human lifespan. The workshop will include several sessions and discussions on longevity, demography, genetic factors and others. We cordially invite academicians, researchers, scientists and interested parties to join this event in the serene campus of Bangi, Malaysia. We are also proud to inform you that 2007 is the official Visit Malaysia Year ! "

Secretariat
Workshop on Human Longevity (WHL'07)
c/o School of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-8921 5713 / 5714
Fax: +603-8925 4519
E-mail: icms07@gmail.com
seminarppsm@lycos.com

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Longevity Workshop -- Submit Abstracts by this Friday, October 26 !
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/2x6jca

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Labels: actuarial studies, Biodemography, Centenarians, Exceptional Human Longevity, human longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Malaysia, Natalia Gavrilova

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Call for Abstracts -- International Workshop on Human Longevity, Malaysia, November 26-27, 2007

Greetings,

I am pleased to learn from the Organizing Committee that the registration deadline for the upcoming International Workshop on Human Longevity has been extended now, and the abstracts could be submitted until Friday, October 26, 2007

This International Workshop on Human Longevity will take place in Malaysia on November 26-27, 2007, and it is organized by the major Malaysian University ("Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- UKM"), Department of Science & Technology.

For more details, please see:

http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/~ppsmfst/icoms/Longevity_wshop2007_poster2.pdf
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/3xgsfj

Some excerpts:

" This workshop is intended to provide a broad overview of bio-demographic ideas, models, methods, and findings regarding human aging, mortality and longevity incorporating interdisciplinary approach. The aims are to bridge the gap between biological, mathematical and social sciences as well as nurturing the understanding and collaboration amongst the regional and global human longevity scientists and practitioners. Besides that, it also aims to demonstrate the vital role of understanding the mechanisms of aging and longevity and to extend healthy and productive human lifespan. The workshop will include several sessions and discussions on longevity, demography, genetic factors and others. We cordially invite academicians, researchers, scientists and interested parties to join this event in the serene campus of Bangi, Malaysia. We are also proud to inform you that 2007 is the official Visit Malaysia Year ! "

Secretariat
Workshop on Human Longevity (WHL'07)
c/o School of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-8921 5713 / 5714
Fax: +603-8925 4519
E-mail: icms07@gmail.com
seminarppsm@lycos.com

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Call for Abstracts -- International Workshop on Human Longevity, Malaysia, November 26-27, 2007
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/2c8jj5

.

Labels: actuarial studies, Biodemography, Centenarians, Exceptional Human Longevity, human longevity, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Malaysia, Natalia Gavrilova

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Invited Lectures on Aging and Longevity Studies

Invited Presentations
of Leonid and Natalia Gavrilov

This page describes our experience of giving invited scientific lectures in Canada, France, Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Russia, and of course in the United States -- including invited presentations at the National Institute on Aging (NIA, NIH), Harvard University, Buck Institute for Age Research, Columbia University, etc (see below).
If you are interested in our lectures, please contact us at: gavrilov(at)longevity-science.org. Thank you!

Forthcoming:
International Workshop on Human Longevity
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia, November 26-27, 2007
Invited speakers: Dr. Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D., and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova, Ph.D.
See official announcement and brochure.
For further details, please contact:

Secretariat
Workshop on Human Longevity (WHL'07)
c/o School of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Science & Technology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-8921 5713 / 5714
Fax: +603-8925 4519
E-mail: icms07@gmail.com
seminarppsm@lycos.com

International Conference on Aging & Longevity Studies
"From Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens discatenatus"
August 27-28, 2007
Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Vorobievy Hills, Laboratory Korpus B, room 221
(1) Dr. Leonid Gavrilov "Aging: Reliability theory and the concept of phenoptosis"
For Power-Point Presentation click here
(2) Dr. Natalia Gavrilova "Hibernation, Aging and Longevity"
For Power-Point Presentation click here

VI European Congress of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics
St. Petersburg, Russia, July 5 - 8, 2007
Hotel Pribaltiyskaya, Korablestroitelej street, 14.
"Demography of Ageing" Symposium
Saturday, July 7 at 9:00 am, Severny Hall
"Biodemographic Reliability Theory of Ageing and Longevity"
Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova
Click here for Power Point Presentation

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Division of Geriatric Medicine
Veteran's Memorial Building, Room 1613A
May 3, 2007 at 5:00pm
"Determinants of Exceptional Longevity"
Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova
Click here for Power Point Presentation.

Harvard University, Boston
Harvard School of Public Health
(1) Biodemography of Human Longevity: New Methodological Approaches
Click here for Power Point Presentation. Announcement.
(2) Biodemography of Human Longevity: New Findings and Ideas
Click here for Power Point Presentation. Announcement.
Thursday, April 26th, 4:00 - 5:30 pm.
Kresge Building, Room 110
677 Huntington Avenue

Chicago Actuarial Association Workshop, Chicago, USA
Dr. Leonid Gavrilov, Dr. Natalia Gavrilova
Invited talk: -- "Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity"
March 13, 2007, 4:10pm
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
300 East Randolph Street, CAL level
Click here for Power Point Presentation.

University of Wisconsin- Madison
Center for Demography of Health and Aging (CDHA)
March 7, 2007
4308 William H. Sewell Social Science Building
L.A. Gavrilov, N.S. Gavrilova "Biodemography of Human Longevity: New Findings and Ideas"
For Power-Point presentation click here

Buck Institute for Age Research
August 4, 2006
8001 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, CA
(1) Dr. Leonid Gavrilov "Reliability Theory of Aging and Longevity"
For Power-Point Presentation click here
(2) Dr. Natalia Gavrilova "Testing Biological Theories of Aging with Demographic and Genealogical Data"
For Power-Point Presentation click here

14th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine
Chicago, July 2006
Two invited talks (Program):
(1) Leonid Gavrilov "Reliability Theory of Aging"
(Power Point presentation, 3Mb)
(2) Natalia Gavrilova "Factors of Exceptional Longevity"
(Power Point presentation, 2Mb)

Chicago Actuarial Association Workshop, Chicago, USA
Dr. Leonid Gavrilov, Dr. Natalia Gavrilova
Invited talk: -- "Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity"
March 14, 2006, 3pm
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
300 East Randolph Street, CAL level
Click here for Power Point Presentation.

Columbia University, New York
Mailman School of Public Health, Research Seminar in Epidemiology, February 10, 2006
Dr. Leonid Gavrilov and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova.
"Reliability-Theory Approach to Epidemiological Studies of Aging, Mortality and Longevity"
Columbia University Medical Center, Hammer Health Science Center, Room: 301, 701 W. Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30pm
Click here for Power Point Presentation (2.5Mb)

International Conference "Longevity and Mortality Risks: Research Contributions"
Paris, France, January 17, 2006
Invited Lecture:
Dr. Natalia Gavrilova and Dr. Leonid Gavrilov
"Mortality Tables and Laws: Biodemographic Analysis and Reliability Theory Approach"
Click here for Power Point Presentation (1.5Mb)

The University of California, Santa Cruz.
Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS) and CSTAR Research Seminars
Two invited presentations:
(1) Dr. Natalia Gavrilova and Dr. Leonid Gavrilov. "Testing Biological Ideas on Evolution, Aging and Longevity
with Demographic and Genealogical Data" October 10, 2005. Click here for Power Point Presentation
(2) Dr. Leonid Gavrilov and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova. "Reliability Theory of Aging and Longevity" October 10, 2005.
Click here for Power Point Presentation

The University of Chicago. Department of Ecology and Evolution.
The Ecology and Evolution Natural History Seminar
Two invited presentations:
(1) Dr. Leonid Gavrilov and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova. "Testing Biological Ideas on Evolution, Aging and Longevity with Demographic and Genealogical Data" May 10, 2005. Click here for Power Point Presentation
(2) Dr. Leonid Gavrilov and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova. "Reliability Theory of Aging and Longevity" May 24, 2005.
Click here for Power Point Presentation

International Symposium "Living to 100 and Beyond: Survival at Advanced Ages"
Orlando, Florida, January 12-14, 2005, The Society of Actuaries
Two invited presentations:
(1) N. S. Gavrilova, L. A. Gavrilov. "Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity: Using Computerized Genealogies and Internet Resources for Human Longevity Studies"
For Abstract of the paper click here
Click here for Power Point Presentation
(2) L. A. Gavrilov. Invited discussion of the paper “IDL, the International Database on Longevity”
Click here for Power Point Presentation

12th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine
Chicago, August 2004
Two invited talks (Program and Speakers):
(1) Leonid Gavrilov "Reliability theory of aging" (Power Point presentation, 4Mb)
Abstract: "Reliability theory of aging"
(2) Natalia Gavrilova "Biodemography of human longevity" (Power Point presentation, 2Mb)
Abstract "Biodemography of human longevity"

The National Institute on Aging, NIH, Washington, DC, USA
Workshop on Uses of Survival Data in Research on Factors Affecting Aging
Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. "Using survival data as a predictive factor for survival or other outcomes",
May 11, 2004, 12:45-5:00pm
Gateway Building, Room 5C25 May 11-12, 2004
See Participant list and Workshop Agenda
Click here for Power Point Presentation (1Mb).

Chicago Actuarial Association Workshop, Chicago, USA
Invited talk: -- "Bio-Actuarial Studies of Human Longevity"
March 18, 2004, 3pm
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
300 East Randolph Street, CAL level
Click here for Power Point Presentation (2Mb).

The University of Sydney, Sidney, Australia
Anderson Stuart Seminar Series
Invited talk: -- "Reliability-engineering approach to the problem of biological aging"
12 March 2004, 1pm, Room E401
Anderson Stuart Building, Sydney, Australia
Click here for Power Point Presentation (4Mb).

Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Sidney, Australia
Invited talk: -- "Genetics of Human Longevity: New Ideas and Findings"
Monday, March 8, 2004 at 9.00-10.00 am
Concord Hospital, Sidney, Australia
Click here for Power Point Presentation (1Mb).
See photos.

Inaugural International Conference on Longevity
Sydney, Australia, March 5-7, 2004
Two invited presentations:

(1) March 5th, 2004. 10:15am. Plenary Session - Living Longer
Dr. Leonid A. Gavrilov. "Biodemography of Human Longevity"
Click here for Power Point Presentation (4Mb).
This keynote lecture received an average score of 4.21 out of 5.00 maximum possible points in its anonymous evaluation conducted by the Organizing Committee among the Conference participants.
Some comments include:
-- "Great to see such a dedicated, warm scientist."
-- "Amazing! We consider a genetic reason for everything. Every aspect has to be considered."
-- "Content was fascinating & pitched at an intelligent level - Great!!"
The Conference organizers selected this lecture with two other lectures (one by a representative from the United Nations, and another by a representative from the World Health Organization) for a world-wide distribution in the form of DVD (DVD04_01):
http://www.internationalresearchcentre.org/shop/scditem.asp?ProdID=2

(2) March 5th, 2004. 5:30pm. Session "Healthy Aging: Research & Policy"
Dr. Natalia S. Gavrilova. "Genetics of Human Longevity: New Ideas and Findings"
Click here for Power Point Presentation (4Mb).
For more information see Conference Brochure and Final Conference Program
See photos.

Harvard University, Boston, USA
Invited talk: -- 'Patterns of violent crime in Russia'
Friday, February 13, 2004, seminar 'Crime, Law, and Justice in post-Soviet Russia'
The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Click here for Power Point Presentation.
See photos.

University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Population Genetics Seminars.
Invited talk: -- 'Testing Biological Ideas on Evolution, Ageing and Longevity with Demographic and Genealogical Data'.
Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology (ICAPB),
8 October, 2003. University of Edinburgh, Biological Department.
Click here for Power Point Presentation (4Mb).

Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Invited talk: -- 'Bio-Actuarial Studies on Human Longevity'.
7 October, 2003. Mathematics Building of Heriot-Watt University,
School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics.

International Seminar 'Projecting Future Mortality', Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Sponsored by Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau and the Government Actuary's Department.
Invited talk: -- 'Limits on Human Lifespan and Molecular Effects on Ageing'.
Click here for Power Point Presentation (4Mb).
6 October, 2003, Royal College of Surgeons, Nicholson Street, Edinburgh

Social Medicine Seminar Programme, Bristol, UK
Invited talk: -- 'Epidemiology of Human Longevity',
25 September, 2003, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol

10th Congress of the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology
Queens' College, Cambridge, England September 19-23, 2003.
Three invited presentations:
-- 'Early-Life Programming of Aging and Longevity: The Idea of High Initial Damage Load (the HIDL Hypothesis).'
See Abstract published in Biogerontology, 4(Suppl. 1): 34-34, 19 Sep 2003, and listen the presentation as audio (MP3) file available here.
-- 'Does Exceptional Human Longevity Come With High Cost of Infertility? Testing the Evolutionary Theories of Aging.'
See Abstract published in Biogerontology, 4(Suppl. 1): 35-35, 19 Sep 2003.
-- 'Reliability-Engineering Approach to the Problem of Biological Aging.'
See Abstract published in Biogerontology, 4(Suppl. 1): 34-35, 19 Sep 2003.

Chicago Actuarial Association Workshop
-- invited speaker, Chicago, March 25, 2003

World Health Forum on Aging
invited delegate, Dallas/Fort Worth, USA, February, 2003

NIH meeting 'The Dynamic and Energetic Basis of Health and Aging'
-- (invited speaker, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, November, 2002);

International meeting
"Grandmothers: The psychological, social, and reproductive significance of the second half of life."
-- invited speaker, Delmenhorst, Germany, September, 2002

International Symposium of The Society of Actuaries
'Living to 100 and Beyond: Survival at Advanced Ages'
-- (Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA, January, 2002, invited discussant)

IPSEN Foundation, Paris, France (1999, 1995);

INSERM, Montpellier, France (1999);

Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany (1999);

BowlingGreen State University, Ohio (1999);

Department of Demography at the Rome University, Italy [Dipartrimento di Scienze Demografiche, Roma, Universita 'La Sapienza'] (1998);

Universite Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, (1998, 1997, 1995, 3 presentations);

Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MA (1998);

Department of Biology, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (1997);

Center for Gerontology Research, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia, PA (1997);

University of Washington, Seattle, WA (1997);

Aeiveos Sciences Group, Seattle, WA (1997);

Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (1997);

Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago, IL (1997);

Iowa State University, Ames (1997);

Gerontology Center of the University of Georgia, Athens, GA (1997);

Institute of HeartMath, Boulder Creek, CA (1997);

Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), The Hague, Netherlands (1995);

Sussex University, Brighton, UK (1995);

Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Netherlands (1995).

Institut National d'etudes Demographiques (INED), Paris, France (September 25,1995)

Institute of Human Genetics, Wurzburg, Germany, 1993

Invited talks in Chicago, July 2006:
Two invited talks (Program):
(1) Leonid Gavrilov "Reliability theory of aging" (Power Point presentation, 3Mb)
(2) Natalia Gavrilova "Factors of Exceptional Longevity" (Power Point presentation, 2Mb)

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Labels: actuarial studies, aging studies, Biodemography, Centenarians, Invited Lectures, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity predictors, longevity studies, Natalia Gavrilova

Longevity Science

Friday, July 13, 2012

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Two Scientific Presentations on Longevity & Mortality in Detroit, May 1-2

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Call to Danish Colleagues

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

An Unusual Source of Inspiration

Monday, February 23, 2009

Project Win Announcements - Biodemography of Exceptional Longevity

Monday, February 09, 2009

News Release: How Does One Reach 100? Chicago Researchers Will Study Determinants of Human Longevity

Thursday, January 08, 2009

New NIH Longevity Study

Thursday, January 03, 2008

International Symposium on Survival to Advanced Ages: "Living to 100"

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Meeting in San Francisco, November 16-20

Stay trim and have children to be 100

Sunday, November 04, 2007

International Workshop on Human Longevity -- Register Today!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Longevity Workshop -- Submit Abstracts by this Friday, October 26 !

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Call for Abstracts -- International Workshop on Human Longevity, Malaysia, November 26-27, 2007

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Invited Lectures on Aging and Longevity Studies

Invited Presentations
of Leonid and Natalia Gavrilov

About Me

Links

Previous Posts

Archives

Further reading:

Longevity Science

Friday, July 13, 2012

Media Coverage of New Longevity Study

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Monday, February 09, 2009

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Stay trim and have children to be 100

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Invited Presentationsof Leonid and Natalia Gavrilov

About Me

Links

Previous Posts

Archives

Further reading:

Invited Presentations
of Leonid and Natalia Gavrilov