by being vaccinated. Talk with your doctor
or nurse about which vaccines you need
n Breast cancer Screening (Mammogram):
All women — Ages 50 and older,
and when to get them.
every 1 to 2 years.
* Being at risk means that you may be more likely to develop a specific disease or condition. Whether you are at risk depends on your family history, things you do or don’t do (such as exercising regularly or using tobacco), and other health conditions you might have (such as diabetes). If you think you might be at risk for a specific disease, talk with your doctor.
24
blsa’s iDeAl Future
We have learned a great deal from the BLSA
According to the NIA-supported New England
and a growing body of aging research. But
Centenarian Study, centenarians (individuals
there is much more to explore. In 2009, while
100 years and older) can be divided into three
continuing other areas of research, the BLSA
groups: “survivors,” 42 percent of the study
will begin to examine the genetic, environ-
population; “delayers,” 45 percent of the study
mental, social, and behavioral factors that
population; and “escapers,” 13 percent of the
preserve health and function for a rare fraction
study population. Survivors had an age-related
of the oldest old adults. The BLSA has devel-
disease before age 80, delayers were not
oped the Insight into the Determinants of
diagnosed with an age-related disease until
Exceptional Aging and Longevity (IDEAL)
after age 80, and escapers reached year 100
study, which will focus on people 80 years and
without ever having an age-related disease.
older who are living free of physical and cogni-
In the IDEAL study, scientists will focus on
tive disease. Taking advantage of research
individuals able to delay or evade disease and
strategies already standard for the BLSA, the
disability into their eighties — the delayers and
aim of the new study is to identify factors
the rare escapers.
that distinguish extraordinary health at very
The IDEAL study will offer a greater under-
advanced age from non-“ideal” aging. Further,
standing of the mechanisms that are important
IDEAL aims to discover the physiological,
to exceptional aging. There are many potential
environmental, and behavioral risk factors that
benefits of the IDEAL study:
result in the loss of exceptional aging status
over time. Although research exists on the
n Scientists will be able to study traits that
relationship between long life and functional
have long been of interest to the research
decline, we still know relatively little about why
community.
certain individuals have excellent health well
n Studying these participants over time will
into their eighties while others experience
provide data needed to compare the delayers,
disease and physical decline earlier in life.
who eventually develop disability, and the
evaders, who never become disabled.
Previous research findings looked at whether or
not long life and healthy aging are familial traits.
n Identifying factors that lead to “ideal”
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s
aging may be used to develop strategies for
Twin Study, for instance, found extreme
improving the health of all people as they
longevity has a relatively low inheritance
get older.
(about 20 percent, although the genetic effect
In short, the IDEAL study continues the
tends to be higher at older ages) while main-
BLSA’s research interest in advancing what is
taining physical function in late life appears
known about healthy aging. Findings from this
highly inheritable (50 to 60 percent). However,
study perhaps will translate into actions that
the study did not identify the specific factors
preserve health and physical function for very
contributing to longevity and healthy aging.
long-lived individuals.
25
I N t H E I R o W N W o R D S :
R E F L E c T I O N S F R O M T H E B L S A S T A F F
I have been with the BLSA since 1987, when I
DR. JEFF METTER
was hired as the study physician. During my
time with the study, I have seen the BLSA make a number of changes to adapt to shifting times, research questions, and needs. The early years of the study focused on understanding the dynamic changes that occur within individuals as they age. In doing so, the BLSA made major contributions to our understanding of how individuals age and characterizing the aging process. As the study matured and our understanding of aging increased, research questions gradually began to examine the transitions
between aging and disease.
...the BLSA made
major contributions to I came to the BLSA from the Veterans Administration, where I was the physician on a chronic care ward,
our understanding of
specializing in stroke and neurological disease. What was
how individuals age
most striking to me at the time was the vitality of many
and characterizing elderly members of the BLSA as compared to those I
the aging process. knew from the VA. Individuals in their seventies and eighties were active, running businesses, and participating
in activities not normally associated with older adults. In more recent years, I have seen people in their eighties and nineties with the same level of energy that I once observed in 70- and 80-year-olds. What I wonder now is whether our older population is healthier and more robust or I am now older and observing others in a different light. It is probably both.
Thank you to the BLSA participants for your efforts and commitment. The study would not exist without you.
26
R E F L E c T I O N S F R O M T H E B L S A S T A F F
taking stoCk,
looking ahead
When the BLSA began in 1958, the post-war
Today, increasing numbers of individuals are
baby boom was just becoming a phenomenon.
reaching extreme old age while maintaining
With the oldest members of that baby boom
good health and functional status. The BLSA,
cohort now approaching their 65th birthday,
by focusing on these individuals, will carry on
the founders of the BLSA can be credited with
its original groundbreaking approach by
impeccable timing – they somehow knew that
asking — can we indeed directly affect the
the need to understand how we grow older
aging process? Understanding why some
would become increasingly important to both
people are resistant to disease and functional
individuals and society.
decline and identifying ways to stay healthy
are the challenges for the future. With the help
Over its 50 years, discoveries from the BLSA
of study participants, the BLSA will address
have helped to transform the way we concept-
these questions. The answers may set in
ualize aging. Just like the people it studies, as
motion new ways to live healthier and longer
the BLSA gets older, some things have changed
than ever before.
and some remain the same. New research
questions and study designs have emerged,
but the BLSA remains true to its
goal to distinguish normal aging
from disease.
27
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