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“Brian Health and Aging Positively”

Laura K.M. Donorfio, Ph.D.

“Brian Health and Aging Positively”

Laura K.M. Donorfio, Ph.D.

September 11, 2012September 11, 2012

CEA-Retired Fall Issues ConferenceCEA-Retired Fall Issues Conference

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GOALS FOR TODAYGOALS FOR TODAY

““Brain Health and Aging Positively”Brain Health and Aging Positively”1.1. How Aging is Making HistoryHow Aging is Making History2.2. How this Impacts You and the WorldHow this Impacts You and the World3.3. How “Protecting” Your Brain can How “Protecting” Your Brain can

Enhance Brain HealthEnhance Brain Health

Positive Aging Role

Models

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OPENING HUMOROPENING HUMOR

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1.1. Individuals Are Getting OlderIndividuals Are Getting Older

AGING IS MAKING HISTORYAGING IS MAKING HISTORY

2.2. The World Is Getting OlderThe World Is Getting Older

For the first time in For the first time in human historyhuman history, we are , we are living longerliving longer than ever before and the rate than ever before and the rate of of growthgrowth of the older population is of the older population is unprecedented! unprecedented!

Longevity Revolution

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Life Expectancy Has IncreasedLife Expectancy Has Increased

528

78.2

47.3

31.3

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By 2017—1 in 5 in U.S. will be 65+

Florida is already there!

Italy, Japan, & Germany are already there!

By 2017, the United States will be a giant state of Florida!

Life Expectancy Has IncreasedLife Expectancy Has Increased

77

U.S. 48th in world

Life Expectancy Around the WorldLife Expectancy Around the World

Source: United Nations 2010

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Jeanne Calment 122 years and 164 days

France

Christian Mortensen115 years 252 days

United States

Documented – World’s Oldest Documented – World’s Oldest

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Maria Gomes Valentim115 years & counting

Lives: BrazilBorn: July 9, 1896

Jiroemon Kimura114 years & counting

Lives: JapanBorn: April 19, 1897

Documented – World’s Oldest Still LivingDocumented – World’s Oldest Still Living

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Fastest Growing Age Group WorldwideFastest Growing Age Group Worldwide 450,000 Worldwide450,000 Worldwide 76,000 in U.S.; 4 million by 205076,000 in U.S.; 4 million by 2050 80% are Women80% are Women 78% are White & 16% African American78% are White & 16% African American Married: 1 in 25 Women & 1 in 4 MenMarried: 1 in 25 Women & 1 in 4 Men Super-Centenarians: 100 WorldwideSuper-Centenarians: 100 Worldwide

CENTENARIANS—100+ CENTENARIANS—100+

Get a letter from President on your Get a letter from President on your 100100thth birthday! birthday!

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Aging Pyramid—450,000 worldwideAging Pyramid—450,000 worldwide

2050 Reach Upwards to 4 Million

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Scientists—

Robert Butler ….believes in the next 50-100 years we can live to 150

Graham Pawelek ….believes in the next 50-100 years we can live to 200

“Aging is just a series of diseases.”

CAN WE LIVE FOREVER…CAN WE LIVE FOREVER…

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What Does It Mean To Be An Older Adult Today?What Does It Mean To Be An Older Adult Today?

We Are Not Quite Sure!We Are Not Quite Sure!

How Will Aging Change the Way We Live?How Will Aging Change the Way We Live?

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“Our general confusion is compounded by a new kind of ignorance. Until late in this century, we humans spent time with people of all generations, but today we aren’t likely to have much contact with old people until we are relatively old ourselves.”

Mary PipherAnother Country

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LEVEL?PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LEVEL?

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“The trouble is, old age is not interesting until one gets there. It’s a foreign country with an unknown language to the young and even to the middle-aged.”

May Sarton As We Are Now

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LEVEL?PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LEVEL?

Retirement? Leisure? Grandparenthood?Retirement? Leisure? Grandparenthood?

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Why is Aging a Foreign Country?Why is Aging a Foreign Country?

Added decades to lifeAdded decades to life

Ageism & Negative Stereotypes Ageism & Negative Stereotypes

Healthier than ever beforeHealthier than ever before

““50 is the new 40” 50 is the new 40” (Google: 5 million hits)(Google: 5 million hits)

Age is no longer used as a Age is no longer used as a markermarker of of where and what you should be doing in where and what you should be doing in lifelife

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How will

Aging Impact

the World?

Healthcare Road Structure

Housing Needs Older Workforce

Young & Old Competingfor Resources

TransportationAssisted Living

Law Reform

Euthanasia

Leisure Activities

Building StructureSocial Security

Caregiving

TOTAL IMPACT

Government/Policy Making ProgressGovernment/Policy Making Progress

Medicare

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Gerontology Making ProgressGerontology Making Progress

Stages Age1. Young Adulthood 18-342. Middle Adulthood 35-543. Young Old 55-694. Middle Old 70-845. Old Old 85-996. Centenarians 100-1097. Super-Centenarians 100+

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Writers Making ProgressWriters Making Progress

“Third Chapter”—Life After 50

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““Pop Culture” Making ProgressPop Culture” Making Progress

Mrs. BeasleyGrandma Barbie

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Neuroscience Making Progress Neuroscience Making Progress

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Neuroscience & Brain HealthNeuroscience & Brain Health

Has made tremendous strides in Has made tremendous strides in understanding the capacity for brain understanding the capacity for brain plasticityplasticity……

“The ability of the brain to change with learning”

Discovered a Discovered a connection between connection between brain health and life brain health and life stylestyle

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Neuroscience & Brain HealthNeuroscience & Brain Health

Risk for Brain Aging

1/3 Genetics

2/3 Lifestyle Choices

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Neuroscience & Brain HealthNeuroscience & Brain Health