A great episode of 60 minutes interviewed patients and researchers involved with the 90+ Study run of UC Irvine (Want to live to 90? - CBS News). It's a pleasure to see and listen to these spry characters, with a sunny disposition on life and towards helping the study. As the number of people in this bracket get larger and the records continue to grow of their habits, it's exciting to know what they can help us know about the aging process for everyone. Some facinating insights into Alzheimers, although we still must be at the start of that discovery process. Good to know we can look forward to our daily cup of coffee and glass or two of wine, and stop worrying so much about the waistband after 65/70!
AoA.gov : The U.S. Administration on Aging: The population 65 and over has increased from 35.5 million in 2002 to 43.1 million in 2012 (a 21% increase) and is projected to increase to 79.7 million in 2040. In 2010, the 65+ population was 13% of the population.
UCI MIND The 90 Study - UCI MIND:
The Oldest-old
The 90+ Study was
initiated in 2003 to study the oldest-old, the fastest growing age group in the
United States. The 90+ Study is one
of the largest studies of the oldest-old in the world. More than 1,600 people
have enrolled. Because little is known about people who achieve this
milestone, the remarkable increase in the number of oldest-old presents a
public health challenge to promote the quality as well as the quantity of life
Major findings
Researchers from The 90+ Study have
published many scientific papers in premier journals. Some of the major
findings are:
- People
who drank moderate amounts of alcohol or coffee lived longer than those who
abstained.
- People
who were overweight in their 70s lived longer than normal or underweight people
did.
- Over 40%
of people aged 90 and older suffer from dementia while almost 80% are disabled.
Both are more common in women than men.
- About
half of people with dementia over age 90 do not have sufficient neuropathology
in their brain to explain their cognitive loss.
- People
aged 90 and older with an APOE2 gene are less likely to have clinical Alzheimer’s
dementia, but are much more likely to have Alzheimer’s neuropathology in their
brains
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