WHAT’S NEW IN 2007
Thanks to the continued cooperation of research participants and their families, lots of new research projects are underway. The 90+ Study researchers are looking at markers in the blood that may be associated with dementia. Other fields of study include identifying factors that keep 90+ participants free of disability into their nineties and beyond.
MEET ANNLIA PAGANINI-HILL, PH.D.
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Dr. Paganini-Hill was the original research investigator of the Leisure World Cohort Study that began in 1981. She received her undergraduate and graduate training in biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Now a professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California, she has devoted her career to the study of population health outcomes, such as the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy on heart health. In addition to her duties at USC, the University of California - Irvine was fortunate to add her to their staff as a research associate in 2006. Dr. Paganini-Hill began collaborating with Dr. Kawas in 2001 as part of The 90+ Study. The current 90+ Study research projects addressing longevity are based on the information that Dr. Paganini-Hill collected in the Leisure World Cohort Study. Currently, she is looking at lifestyle factors, such as alcohol and caffeine intake, that help people live long and live well. |
YOUR PARTICIPATION MOVES SCIENCE FORWARD
In the past year, findings from The 90+ Study added to the scientific understanding of aging. Study results were presented at several scientific conferences, and over half a dozen articles were published or accepted in scholarly journals. Researchers and clinicians across the country are excited to hear about The 90+ Study!
THE PATH TO LONGEVITY
Exercising more, participating in leisure activities and drinking a few glasses of wine per day may help you live longer, according to early results from The 90+ Study. Participants who exercised 45 minutes a day when they were in their seventies tended to live longer than people not exercising. Most any exercise will do -- dancing, tennis, swimming, and others were all found to be helpful. Also, people who spent time doing the things they love, be it sewing, crafts, gardening, or card games, tended to live longer. The more time they spent doing activities, the more helpful it was! In addition, people who drank 1-2 glasses of wine a day tended to live longer than non-drinkers. Don't like wine? Don't worry, the effect was the same with beer and other liquors. These results are just the beginning of interesting findings from UCI's collaboration with Leisure World. We are continuing to discover new and interesting ways to help you live long and live well.
BRAIN DONATION REMINDER
If you or your loved one have signed up for The 90+ Study Brain Donation Program and want more information, please contact Ms. Christina Whittle at 949-768-3635. We at The 90+ Study would like to thank you for your continued participation in this critical research.
2006 APPRECIATION PARTY
The third annual The 90+ Study Appreciation party took place last June. As in previous years, it was a smashing success! Over 100 people attended the event including participants, family members, caregivers and researchers. Attendees were treated to a piano concert from participant Irene Voelker and singing from Philip Cain. Everyone enjoyed the lunch and a chance to get out of the heat! Dr. Claudia Kawas gave a short presentation detailing some of the new findings to come out of The 90+ Study as well as introduced some new faces on the staff at the Clinic for Aging Research and Education (CARE). We hope to see more of you and your loved ones at the next party this coming summer!