Longevity Science

Greetings,

Just came across this news coverage of our recent study by The Republic and Scripps Howard News Service:

"Medical: Research reveals secrets to longer, healthier life"
The Republic - Scripps Howard News Service - July 11, 2012
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/medical-longlife/medical-longlife
and
http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/medical-research-reveals-secrets-longer-healthier-life

Here are some excerpts:

"At the University of Chicago, husband-and-wife researchers Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova looked at records for nearly 1,600 Americans born between 1880 and 1895 who achieved age 100, as well as more than 10,000 shorter-lived siblings and more than 1,000 spouses.

They found that those born in the fall, September through November, had 40 percent higher odds of reaching the century mark than did those born in March. The researchers wrote online in the Journal of Aging Research in November that three factors were probably most important for babies born before 1900: mild temperatures in the first months of life; a seasonal lull in cycles of infectious diseases; and better maternal nutrition being available during the harvest season.

All three factors helped avoid a buildup of damage to the infants' systems early in life, the researchers argue, and support the theory that "early life programming" helps determine the course of aging and longevity."

Labels: Journal of Aging Research, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, month of birth, Natalia Gavrilova, Scripps Howard News Service, Season of birth, The Republic

Friday, June 29, 2012

'Longevity' Lecture at Duke university

Greetings,

We wonder whether some readers of this blog work at Duke university or nearby? We will be giving invited lecture there:

http://ipl.econ.duke.edu/seminars/node/3675

Would be glad to meet in person with those who are interested. Feel free to e-mail us, if you like to talk to us after presentation.

Kind regards,

-- Leonid and Natalia

-------------------------------------------------
-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D., GSA Fellow
-- Natalia Gavrilova, Ph.D., GSA Fellow
Center on Aging, NORC at the University of Chicago
Website: http://longevity-science.org/
Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/

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

Duke University Population Research Institute (DuPRI) Seminar, Thursday, September 27, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, 111 Social Sciences Building

New Estimates of Mortality Trajectories at Extreme Old Ages

Leonid A. Gavrilov and Natalia S. Gavrilova, Center on Aging, NORC at the University of Chicago

Abstract

A growing number of persons living beyond age 85 underscore the need for accurate measurement and modeling of mortality at advanced ages. This is also very important issue for making correct forecasts of population aging and related demands for medical services and social support. Earlier studies indicate that exponential growth of mortality with age (Gompertz law) is followed by a period of mortality deceleration with slower rate of growth. This study challenges earlier conclusions with new datasets and data analysis.

In this study we used U.S. cohort survival data for people born in the same calendar year. For this purpose we obtained data from the U.S. Social Security Administration Death Master File to estimate hazard rates for 15 single-year extinct birth cohorts born in 1881-1895. We found that mortality deceleration is far less pronounced when it is measured for shorter monthly age intervals rather than for traditional annual intervals. To find out why does it happen we have made a simulation study and found that traditional measures of hazard rate (like the Nelson-Aalen hazard rate estimate) underestimate mortality force at extreme old ages (underestimation bias) when death rates are exceptionally high.

We also found that mortality deceleration is far less pronounced when datasets with higher data quality (age reporting) are analyzed. Mortality modeling found that the Gompertz model demonstrates better goodness-of-fit in age interval 88-106 years compared to logistic (Kannisto) model when used for data of good quality. Study of mortality among other mammalian species (mice and rats) also found no mortality deceleration at advanced ages. It appears that the earlier reports of mortality deceleration for ages below 106 years may be a result of age exaggeration and the use of biased estimates of hazard rate. This study was supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG028620 grant).

For more information on this study see our recent peer-reviewed article:

Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Mortality measurement at advanced ages: A study of the Social Security Administration Death Master File. North American Actuarial Journal, 2011, 15(3): 432-447.
Full text available at:
http://longevity-science.org/pdf/Mortality-NAAJ-2011.pdf
and
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3354762/

You can see media coverage and discussion of our new study by clicking on these titles: Chicago Sun-Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Daily Herald, Discovery News, Reuters, Scripps Howard News, U.S. News & World Report, United Press International (UPI), Wall Street Journal, and Wall Street Journal Blog, or see the summary of media coverage here.

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

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'Longevity' Lecture at Duke university
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/Duke-Lecture
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Labels: aging, Duke university, DuPRI, Gompertz law, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, mortality, Natalia Gavrilova, National Institute on Aging, North American Actuarial Journal, Old Age, Social Security Administration, US

Saturday, March 03, 2012

'Longevity' Meeting in Chicago, March 13

Greetings,

I am pleased to inform you about upcoming 'human longevity' meeting in Chicago:

What: Lecture and Discussion "Mortality at Advanced Ages" (session A4)
When: Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Chicago, Illinois (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, 300 East Randolph Street), Training Room 3

Logistic details:
http://www.chicagoactuarialassociation.org/future_events.html
and
http://www.chicagoactuarialassociation.org/2012_03_v3.pdf

For those who are interested, the meeting will be followed by informal discussion, which will become increasingly informal by 5:15 p.m. (cocktail reception) and even more so later by 5:45 p.m. (dinner).

Suggested topics for informal discussions after the lecture: two new related publications of the Wall Street Journal about human longevity:

"Death Gets in the Way of Old-Age Gains"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203753704577257292958403150.html

"An Age-Old Debate"
http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/an-age-old-debate-1122/

Hope to see you in Chicago!

If you can not come to Chicago at this time, and would like to have a similar event at your organization, feel free to contact us.

Kind regards,

-- Leonid

-------------------------------------------------
-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D.,
Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
Center on Aging, NORC at the University of Chicago
Website: http://longevity-science.org/
Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
'Longevity' Meeting in Chicago, March 13
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/Longevity-Lecture

.

Labels: 'Longevity, Chicago, Chicago Actuarial Association (CAA), Leonid Gavrilov, Meeting, Mortality at Advanced Ages, Natalia Gavrilova

Friday, August 05, 2011

New Study on Human Aging, Mortality and Longevity

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are pleased to share with you the results of our new study, just published by a professional journal Demografie:

Ageing and Longevity:
Mortality Laws and Mortality Forecasts for Ageing Populations
Demografie, 2011, 53(2): 109-128.

Full text is available online at:
http://longevity-science.org/pdf/Demografie-2011.pdf

If you have any difficulty reading Czech, the English translation is available here:

http://longevity-science.org/pdf/Demografie-English-2011.pdf

Abstract:

The increase in the number of people surviving to an advanced age poses a serious challenge to the government pension systems of industrialised societies. Therefore, accurate estimates of mortality at advanced ages are essential to improve forecasts of mortality and the population size of the oldest old age group.

In this article the authors present some new approaches to mortality and population projections at older ages using Swedish period life table data. Using two simple assumptions about age- and time patterns of mortality change (log-linear decline of mortality over time and exponential growth of hazard rates with age up to very advanced ages), the authors made mortality projections for Swedish males and females for the next fifty years.

Keywords:

ageing population, mortality laws, Gompertz-Makeham law, background (component of) mortality, senescent (component of) mortality, mortality at advanced ages, mortality forecast

Comments and suggestions are most welcome!

To read and post comments, click here.

Best wishes,

-- Leonid and Natalia

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

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
New Study on Human Aging, Mortality and Longevity
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/Demografie-2011

Help Us Fund the Research on Extension of Healthy Lifespan, by clicking here:
Thank you!

.

Labels: ageing, aging, Demografie, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, mortality, Mortality Forecasts, mortality laws, Natalia Gavrilova, Science News

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

International Longevity Conference in Brussels

Dear Friends,

International Conference on aging and longevity studies will take place in Brussels on October 9 -10, 2010:

http://www.imminst.org/Conference2010

We are invited to give two lectures there:

1. Reliability Theory of Aging and Longevity

2. Demographic Impact of Life Extension

Hope to see you there!

By the way, what would be your advice what to do and to see in Belgium and nearby countries after the conference?

Also we have a nostalgic feelings about Louvain-la-Neuve, where we lived and worked in 1995-1996, having a EU grant. We would love to visit this place again after the conference for a couple of days. Do you know any people there, who are still actively involved in aging, mortality and longevity studies? Please advise.

Thank you, and looking forward to hear from you,

Kind regards,

-- Leonid and Natalia

--------------------------------------------------------
- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. , GSA Fellow
- Natalia Gavrilova, 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

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
International Longevity Conference in Brussels
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/Longevity-Brussels-2010

.

Labels: aging, Brussels, demography, Immortality Institute, International Conference, Leonid Gavrilov, Life Extension, longevity, Louvain-la-Neuve, Natalia Gavrilova, reliability theory

Friday, June 18, 2010

Scientific Meeting in Moscow - “From Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens liberatus”

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

Dear Friends!

We are pleased to share with you the program of international scientific conference on aging and longevity, which was held at Moscow State University recently (with our participation and presentation there)

You can see the Power-Point-Presentation of our study here:

"Comparative analysis of parameters of human ontogenesis and senescence"

http://longevity-science.org/Ontogenesis-Senescence.ppt

Any comments and suggestions are most welcome!

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

Workshop “From Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens liberatus”

25 May

9.15-9.45 Registration, coffee

9.45-12.00 Chairman, D.B. Zorov

9.45-10.00 V.P. Skulachev. Introductory remarks

10.00-10.45 V.P. Skulachev and M.V. Skulachev The present state of the art of SkQ Megaproject

10.45-11.00 Discussion

11.00-11.15 B. Cannon. Effects of SkQ1 on progeric “Mutator mice” (report 1)

11.15-11.30 Discussion

11.30-11.45 J. Nedergaard. Effects of SkQ1 on progeric “Mutator mice” (report 2)

11.45-12.00 Discussion

12.00-12.30 Coffee break

12.30-14.30 Chairmen, B. Cannon, V.I. Kapelko

12.30-12.45 D.B. Zorov. Effects of SkQs on kidney and brain ischemia/reperfusion injuries.

12.45-13.00 Discussion

13.00-13.15 B.V. Chernyak. SkQ1 accelerates dermal wound healing and arrests the age-dependent decline of this process

13.15-13.30 Discussion

13.30-13.45 N.G. Kolosova. Effects of SkQ on cataract and retinopathies in OXYS rats.

13.45-14.00 Discussion

14.00-14.15 A.A. Zamyatnin. Clinical trials of the SkQ1 drops in treatment of “dry eye”

14.15014.30 Discussion

14.30-15.45 Lunch

15.45-17.45 Chairmen, J. Nedergaard, E.I. Rogaev

15.45-16.00 V.N. Anisimov. Effects of SkQ on SHR and HER-2 mice.

16.00-16.15 Discussion

16.15-16.30 F.F. Severin. Two mechanisms of antioxidant activity of SkQs.

16.30-16.45 Discussion

16.45-17.00 D.A. Cherepanov. Possible role of the Complex III bound cardiolipin dimer in initiation of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation

17.00-17.15 Discussion

17.15-17.30 S. A. Nedospasov. Unexpected features in mice with mutant cytochrome c.

17.30-17.45 Discussion

17.45-18.15 Coffee break

18.15-18.30 R. Zinovkin. How counterproductive programs could escape elimination by natural selection?

18.30-18.45 Discussion

18.45-19.00 V. Gorbunova. Naked mole-rat, a rodent lacking the senescence program, in comparison with his senescing relatives.

19.00-19.15 Discussion

19.45-20.15 Chairmen, G. Libertini, L. Gavrilov

19.15-19.30 A. Siluanov. Naked mole-rat, a cancer-resistant animal.

19.30-19.45 Discussion

19.45-20.00 H.S. Saunders. Programmed vs stochastic aging mechanisms.

20.00-20.15 Discussion

26 May

9.30-12.00 Chairmen, J. Mitteldorf, S.A. Nedospasov

9.30-9.45 K. Lewis. Examples of counterproductive genetic programs in prokaryotes.

9.45-10.00 Discussion

10.00-10.15 N. Gavrilova. Comparative analysis of parameters of human ontogenesis and senescence.

10.15-10.30 Discussion

10.30-10.45 G. Libertini. Aging in wild nature.

10.45-11.00 Discussion

11.00-11.15 T. Goldsmith. Biological functions of aging.

11.15-11.30 Discussion

11.30-12.00 Coffee break

12.00-14.00 Chairmen, T. Goldsmith, B.V. Chernyak

12.00-12.15 J. Mitteldorf. Evolvability, a necessary component of biological evolution

12.15-12.30 Discussion

12.30-12.45 C.J. Hauser. Appearance of mitochondrial DNA and formyl methionine in the blood induces programmed death of organism, resembling septic shock.

12.45-13.00 Discussion

13.00-13.30 General discussion

13.30-13.45 A.G. Ryazanov. An enzyme which shortens the lifespan

13.45-14.00 Discussion

14.00-15.30 Lunch

15.30-16.45 Discussion on establishment of the Homo sapiens liberatus (HSL) movement. Chairman V.P. Skulachev

16.45-17.00 Concluding remarks

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

Abstract of our presentation:

Comparative analysis of parameters of human ontogenesis and senescence

Natalia S. Gavrilova and Leonid A. Gavrilov
Center on Aging, NORC and The University of Chicago

The idea of this study is to compare standard deviations for parameters, which are known to be determined by the developmental program (such as ages of sexual maturity) with variation of characteristics related to aging (such as menopause and death).

One of the arguments used by the opponents of programmed aging is a too high variation in individual lifespans compared to the observed variation of programmed events (such as the age of sexual maturation). The main objective of this study is to test the validity of this argument.

Presentation provides the first results on this topic of scientific studies. In particular, data available in the scientific literature on variability of ages at sexual maturation (menarche), menopause and death are compared to results obtained from the nationally representative survey of adult population of the United States (MIDUS) as well as official life table data.

It is shown that standard deviations for age at onset of menarche are about 10 times smaller than standard deviations for ages of death. Such a difference corresponds well to a difference in mean values of ages when menarche and death occur. Thus, the adjusted variability (coefficient of variation) for age at death is of a similar order of magnitude as that for ages at onset of menarche.

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

Comments and suggestions are welcome!

Home:
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and
Scientific Meeting in Moscow - “From Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens liberatus”
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/Moscow-2010

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Labels: ageing, aging, homo sapiens liberatus, human ontogenesis, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, moscow, Natalia Gavrilova, senescence, skq, Vladimir Skulachev

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Season Greetings!

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

Dear Friends,

Our Season Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year to you!

When a New Year approaches, we often try to summarize what has happened during the ending year.

This year our research team has published the following papers on aging and longevity topics:

Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Aging Populations: Russia/Eastern Europe. In: P. Uhlenberg (Editor), International Handbook of the Demography of Aging, New York: Springer-Verlag, 2009, pp.113-131.

Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Personal Profile. Interview with Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova. Rejuvenation Research, 2009, 12(5): 371-374.

Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Genetic Influences in Later Life. In: D. Carr (Editor), Encyclopedia of the Life Course and Human Development, Macmillan Reference USA, 2009, vol.3, pp.165-170.

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

Gavrilova N.S., Gavrilov L.A. Search for Mechanisms of Exceptional Human Longevity. [Meeting Abstract]. Rejuvenation Research, 2009, 12( Suppl. 1): 30.

Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Body Size in Midlife and Exceptional Longevity: A Study of the US WWI Draft Registration Cards. [Meeting Abstract]. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2009, 13( Suppl. 1): 178-179.

Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Parental Longevity Influences on Mortality Trajectories in Humans. [Meeting Abstract]. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2009, 13( Suppl. 1): 551.

We hope perhaps you may find some of these publications interesting.

Please post your comments and suggestions below, by clicking here.

Russian mortality

Also this year we gave invited talks at:

-- Lectures "Contemporary methods of mortality analysis", Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

-- International Scientific Conference "Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence" (SENS4), Cambridge, England

-- Scientific Workshop "War on Aging: Strategies", Pushino, Russia

As well as scientific presentations at:

-- Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, Atlanta, USA

-- XIXth IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Paris, France

-- Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Detroit, USA

-- Scientific conference of the International Network on Health Expectancy (REVES),Copenhagen, Denmark

This year we attended two fascinating scientific meetings:
-- Longevity Consortium, San Diego, USA

-- Longevity Summit, Manhattan Beach, USA

Also this year we are elected to become Fellows of the Gerontological Society of America:
-- GSA Fellowship for Leonid Gavrilov

-- GSA Fellowship for Natalia Gavrilova

If you are interested in our lectures and/or scientific cooperation, please contact us at:

gavrilov(at)longevity-science.org

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

Kind regards,
– Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova

http://longevity-science.org/

P.S.: Please post your comments and suggestions below, by clicking here.

Fellowships of the Gerontological Society of America:
Season Greetings!

Labels: aging, Happy New Year, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Merry Christmas, Natalia Gavrilova, Russia, Season Greetings

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

New Interview on Aging and Longevity Studies

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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and
New Interview on Aging and Longevity Studies
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/ydpnvhe

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

Monday, May 11, 2009

News from the 'Science for Life Extension' Foundation: Aging -- not a destiny!

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

Greetings,

Recently the 'Science for Life Extension' Foundation has published an interesting news announcement at its website here:

http://www.scienceagainstaging.com/News/news_07.html

For your convenience this Russian text is translated into English below:

Aging -- not a destiny!

Charity evening meeting, April 17, 2009, Moscow.
At this charity event the presentation was made, describing the work of the 'Science for Life Extension' Foundation and its objectives.

Aging -- not a destiny! This was the title of a charitable meeting of the Foundation 'Science for Life Extension', which took place in a comfortable informal environment of the Tsurtsum Cafe at the Winery place (Moscow, Russia). It is this environment, which provided an opportunity for guests to absorb the vast amount of knowledge about human aging, and about the opportunities offered, and to be offered by science to combat it.

The purpose of the meeting - to allow guests (which were people of many different professions - politicians, businessmen, designers, representatives of the various foundations) to learn as much about aging as possible, and to learn that aging could be defeated in the foreseeable future. Knowledge leads to action, and therefore the second goal of the Foundation 'Science for Life Extension' was to get as many supporters and partners as possible.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Michael Batin shared with guests his plans, and the most important of them - the development of an integrated interdisciplinary program 'Science against aging', which the Foundation is being developing for a year already, inviting contributions from leading researchers in Russia and abroad. Among the guests of the meeting were the Foundation's experts, internationally recognized scientists: Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova, Alexei Olovnikov, Vladimir Skulachev and Maxim Skulachev.

The program is a set of research tasks for different scientific disciplines in the study of mechanisms of aging and life extension. This work unprecedented in world science has already been highly evaluated by international scientific community. The second working version of the program was published in February 2009, the next version will be released in May and it will be presented at the International Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) in Paris.

Still this is only the beginning of the work, which will transform the program into a comprehensive document that would serve as both a guide and a tool not only for scientists but also for politicians, policy makers, and national governments, to ensure that the fight against aging follows a coherent strategic plan. Michael Batin announced the budget expenses, which are necessary to complete the first phase of program creation: ten million Russian rubles, of which three million - are the funds of the Foundation itself and seven million - the requested support from investors.

To see short version of the Presentation click here.

Download the full version of the Presentation
in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 format (6,5 Mb)

See Photos from the Charity meeting

Also you are cordially invited to participate in discussion of this new 'Science Against Aging' Research Plan:

http://longevity-science.org/SCIENCE_AGAINST_AGING_RESEARCH_PLAN.pdf
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/df2kvg

To read comments on this topic and to participate in further discussions by posting your own thoughts and suggestions, you are welcome to click here.

Key words:
Science Against Aging, Science for Life Extension, 'Science for Life Extension' Foundation,Aging - not a destiny!, Michael Batin, Leonid Gavrilov, Natalia Gavrilova, Alexei Olovnikov, Vladimir Skulachev, Maxim Skulachev, Program 'Science against aging', International Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), ageing, aging, anti-aging, Life Extension, Longevity

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
News from the 'Science for Life Extension'Foundation: Aging -- not a destiny!
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/oqjq4t

Meeting Photo:

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the 'Science for Life Extension' Foundation, Michael Batin, shared his ambitious plans with the guests (see below).

Labels: Alexei Olovnikov, Foundation, Leonid Gavrilov, Maxim Skulachev, Michael Batin, Natalia Gavrilova, Science Against Aging, Science for Life Extension, Vladimir Skulachev

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:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Two Scientific Presentations on Longevity & Mortality in Detroit, May 1-2
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/cwr2lt

.

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:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Longevity Science: Call to Danish Colleagues
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/cqlnp6

.

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:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Longevity Science: An Unusual Source of Inspiration
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/d9mgga
and
http://tinyurl.com/NIH-approved

.

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

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Quest for Human Longevity: - A Correction

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

Greetings,

Recently an interesting story on aging and longevity has been published by the Vancouver Sun:

It's an Old Story
Scientists, Engineers Replace Alchemists, Novelists in The Quest for Human Longevity
By Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun

This is a well-written article, which requires some corrections in the part where our scientific activities are described. Attached below are the corrected excerpts, with corrections marked in bold. Then the explanation follows why these corrections are made:

"Dr. Leonid Gavrilov, an American-Russian longevity researcher working at the Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago, wrote in the IEEE Spectrum that:
"Many researchers now believe that one day the human life span could be greatly extended by replenishing aging organs with stem cells. We are just now starting down this road. Such regenerative medicine and tissue engineering may sound like science fiction, but a growing number of scientists are taking the first steps to grow tissues and organs to replace failed ones. Laboratories around the world are making progress in building replacement lung, kidney, liver, and heart tissue."

"Gavrilov and his wife, Natalia Gavrilova, galvanized longevity research with their 1991 book, The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach, which is still cited as an authority by Encyclopedia Britannica."

"The two scientists studied the mathematical models of reliability theory devised by engineers to assess systems failure in computers and other complex machines and then applied them to the human body, shedding light on why and how human beings age and then die."

Here is why the corrections are made. It was written in the published story:

"Dr. Leonid Gavrilov, a Russian longevity researcher working at the University of Chicago, where he's a director of the Centre of Aging..."

while in fact I am an American-Russian researcher, and not a director, please see my publicly available resume here:

http://longevity-science.org/CV-gavrilov.htm

It was also written in the published story that allegedly I

"...told The Independent that "replacing damaged organs to greatly extend the human lifespan by substituting young and healthy for old and failing is no longer science fiction."

I do not recall saying this, and, moreover, please see my original published statement on this topic in bold above.

Hope this helps.

It is amazing to see these inaccuracies happen when the reporters write their stories without even contacting the subjects involved (me in this case). Obviously these mistakes could be easily avoided if the reporters contact me before their publication.

Key words:
Human Longevity, Vancouver Sun, Stephen Hume, Leonid Gavrilov, Center on Aging, NORC, University of Chicago, Natalia Gavrilova, Biology of Life Span, reliability theory, The Independent, Life-Extension, anti-ageing, anti-aging, ageing, aging, longevity

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
The Quest for Human Longevity: - A Correction
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/d59ul4

.

Labels: aging, Biology of Life Span, Center on Aging, Leonid Gavrilov, longevity, Natalia Gavrilova, NORC, reliability theory, Stephen Hume, The Independent, University of Chicago, Vancouver Sun

Longevity Science

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Study Finds Birth Month Can Affect Your Longevity

Friday, July 13, 2012

Media Coverage of New Longevity Study

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Research reveals secrets to longer, healthier life - news coverage