Race and Socioeconomic Status: There is a dearth of data on health and function among older African-Americans. The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study, a study of 3,075 men and women aged 70-79, at two sites - Pittsburgh and Memphis, with no reported difficulty walking 1/4 mile, walking up 10 steps, or performing ADL, was designed to assess whether risk factors for functional decline were similar in Blacks and Whites of the same age and reported functional status at the start of the study. This symposium contrasts race, gender, and socioeconomic status differences at baseline and over time.
November 22 at 8:30 a.m.

The Genetics of Exceptional Survival: The NIA funded Pacific Genetic Epidemiologic Study on Aging (PacGen) was designed to explore and develop studies of the genetics for longevity in the Japanese Americans of Hawaii, one of the longest lived populations in the world. PacGen has developed a multidisciplinary research team to investigate exceptional survival in the Honolulu Heart Program (HHP), a study of 8,006 Japanese American men born between 1900 and 1919, and their families in Hawaii, now in its 4th decade of follow-up. This symposium will highlight some of these accomplishments of PacGen.
November 22 at 8:30 a.m.

Understanding Progeria: Progeria, the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) (from the Greek for premature aging), is a rare disease of childhood with striking features resembling premature aging. Other "premature aging syndromes", such as Werner syndrome (progeria of the adult) and Down syndrome, have provided valuable information regarding the phenomenon of aging. Important clues about aging may also result from understanding the pathogenic mechanisms involved in HGPS. This symposium will present an overvie
'"/>

Contact: Todd Kluss
tkluss@geron.org
202-842-1275
The Gerontological Society of America
7-Oct-2004