UNCOMMON APPROACHES FOR UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES

WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO LIVE TWICE AS LONG AS

YOUR ANCESTORS?

In less than one century, life expectancy increased by an average of

30 years in developed regions of the world.

Quite suddenly, there are more people living longer in the world

than ever before in human history. They account for an increasingly

greater percentage of the world population.

Improved longevity is, at once, among the most remarkable

achievements in all of human history and one of our greatest

challenges.

The mission of the Stanford Center on Longevity is to ensure that

these added years serve as a gift, not a burden, to humanity.

The Stanford Center on Longevity seeks to transform the culture of aging

We are an expert on societal issues related to extended life expectancy.

We address challenges across traditional disciplines and conduct research and policy work designed to bring about profound changes in the quality of life from childhood to old age.

Mission

Leadership

Laura L. Carstensen, PhDDirector, Stanford Center on Longevity

Fairleigh S. Dickinson Jr. Professor in Public Policy, Professor of Psychology

Thomas A. Rando, MD, PhDDeputy Director, Stanford Center on Longevity

Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences

Faculty Steering Committee

Tom Andriacchi, Engineering

Bill Damon, Education

Alan Garber, CHP, PCOR

Larry Kramer, Law

Iris Litt, Medicine

Pamela Matson, Earth Sciences

Margaret Neale, GSB

John Shoven, SIEPR

Faculty Collaborators

Faculty Affiliates (130)

MINDMOBILITY

FINANCIAL SECURITY

“To the extent that people arrive at old age mentally sharp, physically fit and financially secure, long-lived

societies will thrive.”

GLOBAL AGINGPOLITICS, SCHOLARS & THE PUBLIC

Divisions & Programs

Divisions:

Programs:

With older adults making up a larger portion of society, health issues affecting not only the body but also mental functioning and emotional well-being are becoming of greater concern.

• Cognition and Memory• Financial and Health Decision Making• Emotional Regulation and Experience

SCL Focus Areas: Recent Work:• Estrogen Window of Opportunity for Neuro-protection• Consensus Conference on Brain Health and Brain Training• Longevity, Memory and Music

Mind

Mobility is critical for independence and quality of life. As people live longer, giving them the ability to remain independent for as long as possible becomes increasingly important.

• Joint Health and Osteoarthritis• Physical Activity • Regenerative Medicine• Built Environment

SCL Focus Areas: Recent Work:

• System Biology-Mechanical Approach Framework for Osteoarthritis• Science of Sedentary Behavior

Mobility

Improving financial security for growing numbers of long lived people is of growing concern to the United States and the world.

• Education on financial milestones• Improving financial planning• Teaching numeracy skills to young people• Financial fraud avoidance

SCL Focus Areas: Recent Work:

• Financial Fraud & the Elderly• Redefining Financial Milestones

Financial Security

Population aging in countries throughout the world presents risks and opportunities in terms of economics, sustainability and national security.

• Stimulate public discourse• Initiate research on economic and political implications

SCL Focus Areas: Recent Work:

• Population Age Shifts• New Realities of an Older America

Global Aging

Population in millions by five-year age bracket; males on left, females on right.

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2008 Revision, Medium Variant Forecast

30Median age 40

65+

15-64

0-14

37

U.S.

158 million 318 million 370 million1950 2010 2030

Global Aging Trends

Total population by age and sex, millions

Population in millions by five-year age bracket; males on left, females on right. Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2008 Revision, Medium

Variant Forecast

24Median age 41

65+

15-64

0-14

34

1950 2010 2030

Total population by age and sex, millions

China

540 million 1,350 million 1,460 million

24Median age

26

65+

15-64

0-14

21

Pakistan

1950 2010 203041 million 185 million 266 million

Global Aging Trends

Politics, Scholars and the Public creates dialogue between the worlds of politics, academia and the public. Results supplement national policy conversations on health care with information and ideas that are fact-based, politically viable and publicly supported.

• Health Security Project (on health care reform)• Medicare and the Views of 65+ Americans• Healthy Aging and Communities

• “Planning to Stay” book project• Indicators of healthy communities• Integrated services

SCL Focus Areas:

Politics, Scholars& the Public

Faculty Research

Faculty Seed Grants:

• Eleven seed grants totaling $500,000 awarded in 2009• Schools include: Medicine, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, Business

Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• Eight postdoctoral fellows, each for three year terms• Departments include Bioengineering, Psychology, Medicine and Health Policy and Research, Microbiology and Immunology, Developmental Biology, Medicine, Genetics

Courses and Events

Courses:

• Undergraduate Longevity Course• First Year Seminar (new student group formed – Stanford Longevity Action Movement - SLAM)• Undergraduate Student Practicum

Events:

• “Launch” conferences – unique and targeted approaches to stimulating action-oriented research• Participation in conferences, talks, meetings

“Our challenge is to make old age not only acceptable but inviting – to make sure that our lives in this unexpected overtime will be a contribution, not a burden, either to ourselves or to those who come after us.  We can craft an old age that will be intellectually stimulating, socially rewarding, productive and fun.  The greatest gift we could give future generations is to say, “Here’s the way you’ll want to be old.”  Even better, we can ensure that today’s nursery schoolers are the first generation to live in a society that prepares them to live long and healthy lives…” Laura L. Carstensen

Stanford Center on Longevity

Stanford Center on Longevity

By the time today’s children grow old, living to 100 will be commonplace.

To the extent that individuals arrive at old age mentally sharp, physically fit, and

financially secure, societies will thrive.

The Stanford Center on Longevity asks the questions, convenes the experts, and

conducts the research that will help all of us – young and old alike – prepare.

http://longevity.stanford.edu