LONGEVITY –
Genetics, Diagnostics and a Good Attitude
This week my mom will be celebrating her 100th
birthday. Relatives and friends will be arriving from all over the country to help her celebrate this momentous occasion. It seems like we hear of people reaching this milestone fairly frequently, but it still has the power to amaze. People who don't even know my mom have asked me to relay their heartfelt congratulations. The most amazing part is that my mom doesn't think she’s “old”. In her mind,
she’s at least 20 years younger. Mom keeps up with current events, plays cards,
makes new friends and remembers things I've long forgotten. In fact, until 3
years ago, mom was living by herself on a farm, gardening and mowing her lawn.
Good health, a sharp mind and a willingness to keep learning new things – isn't
that what we all hope for in our senior years? But how do we make sure we attain that? Can we somehow avoid the diseases that plague many senior citizens e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart disease and cancer? Or are we at
the mercy of our family genetics?
Recently, we've been hearing a lot about 2 research projects addressing these questions by utilizing advances in genetics and medicine to look for clues to longevity - The Human Longevity, Inc project and The 90+ Study.
The Human Longevity Inc project - Dr. J. Craig Venter recently announced the goal of his new company, Human Longevity Inc.(HLI), is to sequence the genomes of over 40,000 individuals per year to identify ways to live longer and healthier lives. HLI co-founder Dr. Peter Diamandis apparently agrees with my mom's view of her age, declaring "100 will become the new 60".
The 90+ Study - The University of California, Irvine 90+ Study compiled physical, cognitive and questionnaire data from 1600 retirement community residents over the age of 90. In a recent interview, Dr. Claudia Kawas revealed a few surprising results e.g. taking vitamins didn't contribute to longer life, moderate alcohol consumption (2 drinks/day) increased longevity, exercising just 15 minutes per day and keeping socially active also contributed to extended life expectancy. The 90+ Study has been granted an extension to include PET and MRI scan experiments to study Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in this population.
The Human Longevity Inc project - Dr. J. Craig Venter recently announced the goal of his new company, Human Longevity Inc.(HLI), is to sequence the genomes of over 40,000 individuals per year to identify ways to live longer and healthier lives. HLI co-founder Dr. Peter Diamandis apparently agrees with my mom's view of her age, declaring "100 will become the new 60".
The 90+ Study - The University of California, Irvine 90+ Study compiled physical, cognitive and questionnaire data from 1600 retirement community residents over the age of 90. In a recent interview, Dr. Claudia Kawas revealed a few surprising results e.g. taking vitamins didn't contribute to longer life, moderate alcohol consumption (2 drinks/day) increased longevity, exercising just 15 minutes per day and keeping socially active also contributed to extended life expectancy. The 90+ Study has been granted an extension to include PET and MRI scan experiments to study Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in this population.
It's important to keep in mind that advances in longevity genetics, diagnostics and medicine won't translate into eternal youth anytime in the near future. We can still expect to acquire certain diseases, gain weight, move slower and look older as we age. That's where the good attitude comes in. Mom wakes up every day looking forward to what new surprises and challenges life will bring her. In fact, I'm sure that attitude is at least partially responsible for her longevity. Happy 100th Birthday, Mom!
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