Chronic Diseases Delayed For Decades in the Very Long-Lived

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Sofiya Milman, MD, MS Assistant Professor of Medicine Divisions of Endocrinology and Geriatrics Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Dr. Sofiya Milman

Sofiya Milman, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Divisions of Endocrinology and Geriatrics
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Aging is a major risk factor for most chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke and osteoporosis. However, many very long-lived individuals delay the onset or never develop age-related diseases. This study compared groups of individuals with exceptional longevity (age ≥95 years) of different genetic and ethnic backgrounds to younger referent groups without familial longevity (age 49-93 years). Long-lived individuals from different groups similarly delayed the age of onset of cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, and stroke. For example, cancer onset was delayed by 30 years and cardiovascular disease by 24 years. The risk of developing any age-related disease was on average 80% lower in individuals with exceptional longevity compared to referents.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Chronic disease is not an inevitable part of aging. Extended period of good health can accompany a long lifespan and is an achievable goal.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future research should focus on identifying the biological mechanisms that contribute to healthy aging.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Ismail, K., Nussbaum, L., Sebastiani, P., Andersen, S., Perls, T., Barzilai, N. and Milman, S. (2016), Compression of Morbidity Is Observed Across Cohorts with Exceptional Longevity. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14222

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com

[wysija_form id=”5″]

Last Updated on July 7, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

Tags:
,