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)

---

Home

http://longevity-science.org/

---

Clues to Longevity

Greetings,

Here is a new media coverage of our longevity studies presented recently at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada:

---

Published: 2007-05-04

Longevity researcher offers clues to living to century mark

By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE, Staff Reporter

Why many people live to a ripe old age and perhaps celebrate their 100th birthday, and why most of us don’t, has long been one of the mysteries of life.

But some revealing U.S. statistics have been able to shed some light on the determinants of extreme longevity, a visiting researcher told a Halifax audience Thursday.

Leonid Gavrilov said his study of genealogical records shows such factors as birth order, the age of a person’s mother and where in the United States a centenarian was raised probably play roles in determining lifespan.

First-born children tend to have improved chances of being on this earth for 10 decades, he said. Mr. Gavrilov said "what’s really important" in determining who reaches age 100 is to be born to a woman under age 25. He also said people from less densely populated farming communities have a better chance of a long life than their city cousins.

"Those who are born on the farm are more insulated from infections" than urban dwellers living in close quarters in densely populated centres, Mr. Gavrilov said.

He said first-born children can have an advantage in terms of health status.

Family genetics and body shape — overweight people aren’t likely to make it to age 100 — are important predictors, too, said Mr. Gavrilov, a Russian expatriate.

According to the New York Times, fewer than two in every 10,000 Americans live to see 100 candles on their birthday cake. However, demographers are expecting the number of centenarians to increase significantly. There could be as many as 800,000 in the U.S. by the middle of this century, the newspaper reported in 2005.

Mr. Gavrilov and his wife, Natalia Gavrilova, are researchers at the University of Chicago who have analyzed scores of computerized records related to Americans who lived in the 19th century.

Mr. Gavrilov told a small group of health-care workers and others at the Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial Building that when it comes to old age, not everyone wants to shave off a few years if they lie about their age.

He said many people, especially those who have survived into their 90s, like to add years so they can claim to be 100 years old.

"It’s a well-known phenomenon," Mr. Gavrilov said of the practice.

Published by The Chronicle Herald, volume 59, Number 106, on Friday, May 4, 2007, at page B3
MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE, Staff Reporter ( mlightstone@herald.ca)
2007 The Halifax Herald Limited, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/833177.html


To read comments on this story, and to post your own thoughts, click here.


Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Longevity Science: Clues to Longevity

Longevity Lecture in Halifax

Mark your calendar for May 3rd lecture on human longevity at the Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada!


Greetings,

We are pleased to announce our upcoming invited lecture on Human Longevity Studies to be held on Thursday, May 3, at the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (5:00pm – 6:00pm, Room 1613A at Veterans’ Memorial Building - VMB Building, 5955 Veterans’ Memorial Lane):

Determinants of Exceptional Longevity

by Leonid Gavrilov, Ph.D. and Natalia Gavrilova, Ph.D.
Center on Aging, NORC/University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

This lecture will present new findings from the ongoing study of American centenarians, a study supported by the US National Institute on Aging, NIH, and by the Society of Actuaries.

The presentation will describe where to get the data on long-lived individuals, how to validate these data, and how to use them in order to find out the determinants of exceptional human longevity.

The lecture will also discuss new findings on the effects of birth order, maternal-age at person's birth, and young-adult-age obesity on chances of exceptional survival.

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

Relevant Publications and Additional Reading:

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.

Gavrilov L.A., Gavrilova N.S. Childhood Conditions and Exceptional Longevity. Full paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Los Angeles, CA, April 1, 2006, 35 pages. Published online at: http://paa2006.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=61675

Gavrilova, N.S., Gavrilov, L.A. Living to 100 and Beyond: Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity. Final report published online by the Society of Actuaries, Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, 2005, 81 pages.

Gavrilova, N.S., Gavrilov, L.A. Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity. In: “ Living to 100 and Beyond” Monograph. The Society of Actuaries, Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, 2005, pp. 1-49.

Gavrilov, L.A., Gavrilova, N.S. Mortality of centenarians: A study based on the Social Security Administration Death Master File. Full Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America (Philadelphia, March 31 - April 2, 2005, oral presentation), 31 pages.Abstract published in: Population Association of America 2005 Annual Meeting. Final Program and Abstracts. p. 183.

Gavrilova, N.S., Gavrilov, L.A. 2005. Search for Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity: Using Computerized Genealogies and Internet Resources for Human Longevity Studies. Published online at: http://ce.soa.org/living-to-100/3b_papers.pdf. Full Paper presented at the Living to 100 and Beyond International Symposium sponsored by the Society of Actuaries (Orlando, Florida on January 12-14, 2005, oral presentation).

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

Media Coverage:

" How to live long and prosper"
New Scientist, issue 2579, November 25, 2006, page 19

"Secret of a long life revealed"
The Sun, UK - November 23, 2006

" First-born of young mums likely to live longer"
Daily Mail, UK - - November 22, 2006

" First-born of young mums likely to live longer"
This is London, UK - - November 22, 2006

" Thanks, mom! Want to live to 100? Having a young mother helps"
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - Wednesday, November 22, 2006

" Living to Be 100 May Depend on Mom"
Forbes -- Monday, November 20, 2006

" Living to Be 100 May Depend on Mom"
CBC News, Canada -- Monday, November 20, 2006

"Young moms, long life?"
Newsday, NY, USA -- Monday, November 20, 2006

" If your mother was under 25 when she had you, you may live to be 100"
Daily Telegraph, UK -- Saturday, November 18, 2006

" Babies of younger mothers have twice the chance of living to 100"
Daily Mail -- June 26, 2006

"Key to long life may be mom's age at birth"
ABC News -- June 23, 2006

"Key to long life may be mom's age at birth"
MSNBC -- June 23, 2006

"Key to long life may be mom's age at birth"
Reuters -- June 23, 2006

" New Research Suggests Children Born to Young Women Are More Likely to Live to 100"
Society of Actuaries Press Release -- 14 June 2006

" Living to 100 may depend on your mother"
Medill News Service, ­ Northwestern University -- May 31, 2006

" Children of younger moms see benefits"
Chicago Maroon, IL - May 26, 2006; pdf file

" Making a century. 60 Seconds"
New Scientist magazine -- 22 April, 2006, issue 2548, page 7.

" Mom's age mean longer life?"
Chicago Tribune -- April 25, 2006

"A Baby Boon"
Forbes, -- Monday, Apr 17, 2006

" Younger Moms' Kids Get Longevity Edge"
Medline Plus -- Monday, April 17, 2006.
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

" Younger Moms' Kids Get Longevity Edge"
Health Finder -- Monday, April 17, 2006.
A Service of the National Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

" Younger Moms' Kids Get Longevity Edge"
WomensHealth.gov -- Monday, April 17 2006.
National Women's Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Human Health and Human Services

" Investigations: Fig. 1, Birthright"
The University of Chicago Magazine, -- February 2006, volume 98, issue 3, page 20

"SOA: Society of Actuaries: First-Born Daughters More Likely to Live to 100,
Suggests Society of Actuaries Research"
Webbolt Business News, Canada - Jan 5, 2006

-------

We could be reached in Halifax, Canada on May 2 - 6 at:

Residence Inn – Marriott
1599 Grafton Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2C3
Phone: 422-0493 Fax: 422-0413
http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/yhzri-residence-inn-halifax-downtown

------

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
Longevity Science: Longevity Lecture in Halifax
.

New York Meeting

Greetings,

We are pleased to announce our two upcoming presentations at the 2007 Population Association of America Annual meeting this week. These two poster presentations will be held at the New York Marriott Marquis hotel, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, (212) 398-1900, at the following dates and locations:


Poster Session 1
Thursday, March 29
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Westside Salon 3-4
5th floor

Poster # 9.
Physical Markers at Young Age and Survival to 100:
A Study of a New Historical Data Resource (The U.S. WWI Draft Cards)
by Natalia S. Gavrilova and Leonid A. Gavrilov, University of Chicago



Poster Session 7
Saturday, March 31
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Westside Salon 3-4
5th floor

Poster # 39.
Problems of Mortality Measurement at Advanced Ages
by Leonid A. Gavrilov, University of Chicago


Looking forward to see you there!

NAAJ Paper

New article on human longevity studies published in a professional peer-reviewed journal -- North American Actuarial Journal


Greetings,

We are pleased to announce publication of a new research article on human longevity predictors, published in a professional peer-reviewed journal (to get the full text just click on the title below):

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.

Abstract

This paper explores new opportunities provided by the ongoing revolution in information technology, computer science and Internet expansion for studies of exceptional human longevity. To this aim, the detailed family data for 991 alleged centenarians born between 1875 and 1899 in the United States were extracted from publicly available computerized family histories of 75 million individuals available at Rootsweb site. To validate the age of the centenarians, these records were linked first to the Social Security Administration Death Master File records (for death date validation) and then to the records of the U.S. censuses for 1900, 1910 and 1920 (for birth date validation). The results of this cross-validation study demonstrated that computerized genealogies may serve as a useful starting point for developing a reliable family-linked scientific database on exceptional human longevity.

The resulting database on centenarians with validated ages was used in the study of the predictors of exceptional human longevity, including familial factors and early-life living conditions. The comparison of households where children (future centenarians) were raised (using data obtained through linkage of genealogies to early U.S. censuses) with control households drawn from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series for the 1900 U.S. census suggests that a farm background (farm ownership by parents in particular) and child residence in the Western region of the United States may be predictive for subsequent survival to age 100. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that lower burden of sickness during childhood (expressed as lower child mortality in families of farm owners and families living in the West) may have far-reaching consequences for survival to extreme old ages.

Analysis of familial factors suggests that there may be a link between exceptional longevity and a person's birth order. It was found that first-born daughters are three times more likely to survive to age 100, compared to later-born daughters of higher birth orders (7+). First-born sons are twice more likely to become centenarians compared to sons having birth order between four and six. Further within-family comparison of centenarians with their siblings found that the protective effect of being first-born is driven mostly by the young maternal age at person's birth (being born to a mother younger than 25 years). Being born to a young mother is an important within-family predictor of human longevity and even at age 75 it is still important to be born to young mother to survive to 100 years.

Earlier drafts of this study were presented and discussed at several professional meetings and received media coverage in the New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, ABC News, MSNBC etc: http://longevity-science.org/Media-Coverage.html

The article will appear online shortly at the Society of Actuaries website, and at the University of Chicago library website

Home:
Longevity Science Blog
and
NAAJ Paper
Shorter weblink:
http://tinyurl.com/2fl2hp

Please post your comments below!:

Centenarians

List of studies on exceptional human longevity
Corrections and additions are most welcome!


Study title: The Utah Study of Fertility, Longevity and Aging (FLAG)
Principal Investigator: Smith, K.R.
Sample description: Individuals with extreme longevity and their family members recorded in the Utah Population Database
Estimated number of centenarians: ~3,000 born before 1908; ~600 born in 1890-1899


Study title: The New England Centenarian Study
Principal Investigator: Perls, T.T.
Sample description: A population-based sample of individuals achieving exceptional longevity, and living in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Estimated number of centenarians: 1,500-2,500


Study title: Clinical and Pathological Studies in the Oldest Old
Principal Investigator: Kawas, C.H.
Sample description: Medical history and lifestyle information for 4,682 cohort members who reached age 90 (Leisure World Cohort Study)
Estimated number of centenarians: <500


Study title: Ashkenazi Jewish Centenarian Study
Principal Investigator: Barzilai, N. J.
Sample description: A group of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians and their children.
Estimated number of centenarians: <500


Study title: Population Based Multidisciplinary Study of Centenarians
Principal Investigator: Poon, L. W.
Sample description: Centenarians of North Georgia
Estimated number of centenarians: <500


Study title: Longevity Genes in Founder Populations
Principal Investigator: Shuldiner, A.R.
Sample description: Old Order Amish and Ashkenazi probands (age greater than 95 years) and their family members
Estimated number of centenarians: ~300


Study title: Genetic Studies of Successful Aging in the Amish
Principal Investigator: Scott, W.K.
Sample description: Amish adults aged 80 and older and their relatives.
Estimated number of centenarians: <200


Study title: Multicenter Study on Exceptional Survival in Families
Principal Investigator: Mayeux, R.
Sample description: Family history study of approximately 600 elderly residents, aged 95 years or older, residing in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area.
Estimated number of centenarians: <200


Study title: Families of cohort survivors over 90
Principal Investigator: Newman, A.B.
Sample description: 400 individuals who have reached age 90 (participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study), their siblings and children
Estimated number of centenarians: <200


Corrections and additions are most welcome!

Actuarial Talk

Mark your calendar for March 13 lecture on human longevity at the Chicago Actuarial Association (CAA) workshop!


Greetings,

We are pleased to announce our upcoming invited lecture on Human Longevity Studies to be held on Tuesday, March 13 in Chicago:

Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity

Time:
Tuesday, March 13, 4:10 pm

Location:
Chicago downtown,
Building of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois,
300 East Randolph Street, CAL level, room for C2 session
NothEast corner of Randolph and Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

Everybody is cordially invited, but the admission requires a prior registration at the Chicago Actuarial Association at:

http://chicagoactuarialassociation.org/

and a picture ID will be also asked at the reception.

Hope to see you there!

Here is a brief description our upcoming talk:

Predictors of Exceptional Human Longevity

- This presentation will discuss new developments and findings from the ongoing study of predictors of exceptional human longevity. Topics include: the effects of maternal age at person's birth, family size, birth-order, season of birth, geography of childhood residence, and parental occupation, socioeconomic status, and parental lifespan.

P.S.:
By the way, if you are curious to know who are the actuaries, and what is the actuarial profession about, please take a look at these new actuarial books:

Market-Valuation Methods in Life and Pension Insurance (International Series on Actuarial Science)
by Thomas Moeller and Mogens Steffensen, 2007



Financial and Actuarial Mathematics
by Yiu Kuen Tse and Wai-Sum Chan, 2007



Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics
by S. David Promislow, 2006

Workshop

See also:
-- Official Announcement of Longevity Workshop
-- Official Brochure about Longevity Workshop


Ongoing Plans for a Scientific Workshop on Human Longevity in Malaysia, November, 2007

Greetings,

This is a place for discussing organizational efforts for a Scientific Workshop on Human Longevity in Malaysia, November 26-27, 2007.

The main idea of this workshop is to encourage more scientists to do research on human longevity, and to foster international collaboration between them. This scientific event is envisioned as a 2-day workshop (on 26 & 27 November, 2007) with about 30-50 participants.

The workshop is anticipated to be a teaching/discussion/hands-on session. The participants come to learn and discuss their ideas with fellow-colleagues. They will be provided with an option to present their papers and discuss their work, for those who wish to do this. Generally speaking, the abstracts and papers are not mandatory for participation in this workshop -- this is an option, an additional opportunity granted to workshop participants. There will be two workshop facilitators who will help to guide and lead discussions. They will throw ideas to be discussed in group. The participants can then be invited to present and share what they have discussed with others. The organizers hope at the end of the workshop there will be some good ideas for joint research proposals.

Roughly, the workshop is anticipated to have 3 sessions daily:

9.00-10.30 - discussion
10.30-11.00 - tea
11.00-12.30 - discussion
12.30-2.00 - lunch/rest
2.00-4.30 - general informal discussion
4.30-5.00 - tea.

To make the afternoon session (2.00-4.30) more lively, the organizers anticipate to have a particularly informal group discussion/presentation.

Here is the Draft of the Human Longevity workshop schedule for 26 & 27 November, 2007

Day 1, 26 November, 2007:

Session 1.
Introductory notes. Short history of the subject. Present state of aging and longevity studies.
Mortality laws. Gompertz-Makeham law of mortality. Compensation law of mortality. Late-life mortality deceleration and plateau. Mathematical functions (laws) describing life span distribution. What are the limits to human longevity?

Session 2
Biological theories of aging and longevity. Review of existing evolutionary theories of aging. Reliability theory and aging studies. Mathematical models of aging.

Session 3 - General Discussion
Experimental studies on aging and longevity. Genes that increase longevity in biological studies. Experimental life extension: caloric restriction, hypothermia, antioxidants. Sex differences in mortality and lifespan: why do women live longer? Do females always live longer?


Day 2, 27 November, 2007 :

Session 4
Epidemiological approach to human aging and longevity. Data resources to study human longevity and its predictors. Brief review of major factors that influence human longevity (behavioral, socio-economic, environmental, nutritional, physiological, etc.). Early-life events and conditions as predictors of human health and mortality in later life. Parental age at reproduction and human longevity. Season-of-birth effects.

Session 5
Genetics of human longevity. Familial longevity and lifespan heritability. Centenarians as a model for aging and longevity studies. Testing evolutionary theories of aging and longevity using human data. Grandmother hypothesis. Links between longevity and fertility. Is there a reproductive cost for human longevity? Longevity and children's sex ratio.

Session 6 - General Discussion
Prospects for human life span extension. Regularities of human mortality. Biological and social characteristics of human life span.
Historical changes of life span in developed countries. Population aging and its causes. Different approaches to forecasting life expectancy and population aging. Prospects for international scientific cooperation in human longevity studies.

Recommended Reading for this Human Longevity Workshop:
1. The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach
2. Handbook of the Biology of Aging, Sixth Edition
3. Handbook of Models for Human Aging
4. Grandmotherhood: The Evolutionary Significance of the Second Half of Female Life
5. Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence: Why Genuine Control of Aging May Be Foreseeable
6. Modulating Aging and Longevity (Biology of Aging and its Modulation)
7. Encyclopedia of Population
8. Encyclopedia of Aging (4 Volume Set)
9. Sex and Longevity: Sexuality, Gender, Reproduction, Parenthood (Research and Perspectives in Longevity)

Please note that just after this human longevity workshop, there will be another interesting meeting at the same location:

International Conference on Mathematical Sciences
"Integrating Mathematical Sciences within Society"
28-29 November 2007, Equatorial Hotel, Bangi-Putrajaya, Malaysia

This conference will also cover the quantitative and mathematical approaches to aging and longevity studies.
Therefore, consider participating in both events at the same place for the period of November 26-29, 2007 !
And then you can take a free tour to Kuala Lumpur on 30th Nov 2007!

If you are interested to be a participant, or a sponsor for this event, please post your comment below.

Malaysia is an interesting country to see!:

http://tourism.gov.my/


Thank you and looking forward to hear from you!