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

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-- 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/

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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-TimesChronicle of Higher EducationDaily HeraldDiscovery NewsReutersScripps Howard NewsU.S. News & World ReportUnited Press International (UPI)Wall Street Journal, and  Wall Street Journal Blog, or see the summary of media coverage here.

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Saturday, October 08, 2011

Please Support the Longevity Study

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are tremendously beholden to the many generous Foundations, which have made grant support to our Longevity Study over the years.

Now only 8% of grant applications submitted to the National Institute on Aging are funded. Thus, it is extremely hard to obtain research funding today.

Therefore, in this difficult economy we are especially hopeful of engaging individuals who are interested in funding some aspect of our studies.

If you would like to discuss with Dr. Gavrilov such a possibility, please do not hesitate to contact him by email: lagavril@yahoo.com

If you would like to directly make a donation to the Longevity Study, just click here:
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Thank you!

Special thanks to our new sponsors:

- Life insurance site called http://www.aptusinsurance.com


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Key words: Philanthropy, Altruism, Donation, Fundraising, Longevity Studies, Aging Research


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Thursday, February 05, 2009

URGENT: Please Contact Your Senator to Support Aging & Longevity Research!

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



Dear All:

Now when the US Senate is discussing the economic stimulus package, there is an unique gold opportunity to make a real difference in increasing funding support for vital aging & longevity research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in particular.

However the window of this opportunity is quite short -- just a few days before the vote!

Please contact your Senator now (and encourage all your friends to do the same), with a suggestion described here.

This simple immediate action can make a great difference for all of us!

Best wishes,

-- Leonid Gavrilov

P.S.: I attach below a copy of my letter sent to my US Senator recently:

Dear Senator Richard Durbin,

I am writing this brief letter to inform you of my unequivocal support for the stimulus package which hopefully will awaken our moribund economy.

I am cognizant that various amendments are being considered as a means of improving the measure. For example, I was not appalled that 246 million dollars in tax breaks for Hollywood production companies was removed.

On the other hand, a vital area that deserves maximum funding and our unequivocal support is the National Institutes of Health, N.I.H. The mission that they perform is vital to our nation's health and well being.

Specifically, I believe it is vital that the National Institute on Aging, N.I.A. have sufficient revenue to fund projects and perform research that will ameliorate and extend the healthy lives of our senior citizens.

Hopefully, within the foreseeable future we will conquer the debilitating conditions and diseases that cause the premature death of so many older Americans who have contributed so much to our country.

54 scientists including myself wrote an Open Letter on Aging Research supporting the feasibility of this approach:

http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/2006/04/54-scientists-open-letter-on-aging.html
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/az7u2y

If only one or two percent of the money was targeted to N.I.A., the benefits could be profound!

Senator, I sincerely hope that you will seriously consider my comments before you vote on this bill.

Sincerely,

-- Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D.
US Citizen, Chicago, IL
Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago
Website: http://longevity-science.org/
Blog: http://longevity-science.blogspot.com/
My books: http://longevity-science.org/Books.html

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See also:
http://capwiz.com/ram/issues/alert/?alertid=12514701
and here

Key words:
Aging Research, Longevity Research, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Richard Durbin, Dick Durbin, Leonid Gavrilov

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Friday, January 30, 2009

PLEASE DISSEMINATE: Act Now to Support Aging & Longevity Studies!

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



Dear All:

Please spread a word among your colleagues:


Act Now to Support Aging & Longevity Studies in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009

This week the U.S. House of Representatives has approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 for $819 billion. The bill has critical funding for the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The vote sent the bill to the Senate, where debate will begin soon. The Senate is expected to take up their version of the bill during the week of February 2. Call your U.S. Senator and urge to support the legislation!

If you support National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) in particular, please contact your U.S. Senator via email, fax or phone with the below message of support. Please thank them for recognizing the importance of these agencies, and please make your message more personal by stating how these agencies are important to you and your institutions.

Contact information for members of the U.S. Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/

Draft message of support:
Re: National Institutes of Health

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 includes $3.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH needs this money to recover from years of being funded below the rate of inflation, and to invest in vital aging & longevity research programs through the National Institute on Aging (NIA). [Add your own words here, using some of these suggestions]. I urge you to support this bill and thank you for your support.

Thank you, and, if you can, please contact your U.S. Senator today!

Also please see the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations document "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan Report", page 60:
Aging

The Committee understands that evidence-based prevention strategies within the older population can have an immediate impact on the health care system, as well as increasing quality of life for millions of Americans.

For example, an older American is treated in an emergency department for a fall every 18 seconds, with the total cost of treating those injuries exceeding $19,000,000,000 per year.

The Committee is supportive of the types of interventions currently supported by the Administration on Aging’s Evidence-Based Disease Prevention Grants Program, and urges the Secretary to expand prevention initiatives in the older population.

See also page 3 of the updated (02/02/2009) summary of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:
Job-Creating Investments in Health include:

- $3.5 billion to conduct biomedical research in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and stem cells, and to improve NIH facilities.

- $1.1 billion to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, NIH and the HHS Office of the Secretary to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different health care services and treatment options.

See also the Latest News of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations.


Key words:
Aging Research, Longevity Research, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), U.S. House of Representatives

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Act Now to Support Aging & Longevity Research !

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



Dear All:

Please spread a word among your colleagues:
Act Now to Support Aging & Longevity Research in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009

The new Congress is moving quickly on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. Appropriations Chairman Obey hopes to see the bill on the House floor this Wednesday, January 28.

The bill has critical funding for the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Call your representatives today, tomorrow or Wednesday and urge them to support the legislation.

If you support National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) in particular, please contact your U.S. Representatives via email with the below message of support. Please thank them for recognizing the importance of these agencies, and please make your message more personal by stating how these agencies are important to you and your research institutions.

Contact information for members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

http://www.house.gov/writerep

Draft message of support:
Re: National Institutes of Health

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 includes $3.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH needs this money to recover from years of being funded below the rate of inflation, and to invest in vital aging & longevity research programs through the National Institute on Aging (NIA). [Add your own words here, using some of these suggestions]. I urge you to support this bill and thank you for your support.

Thank you, and, if you can, please call your Members of Congress today!

Key words:
Aging Research, Longevity Research, US Congress, American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), U.S. House of Representatives

Home:
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and
Act Now to Support Aging & Longevity Research !
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Links to this post:

- Added My Voice to Support Aging & Longevity Research



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