Senior Citizen Longevity & Statistics

Study of Centenarian Suggests Genes May Not Hold the Secret to Longevity

Researchers credit Mediterranean diet, physical activity, mild climate

May 5, 2008 - A study of the bones of a 113-year-old man, who has recently died at 114, reveals his longevity was due to a healthy lifestyle, a Mediterranean diet, a temperate climate and regular physical activity, rather than any genetic modifications. Read more...

Rich White Men Doing the Best in Fight to Extend Longevity in U.S.

For poor, women and minorities the picture not so rosy

April 22, 2008 - Life expectancy in the U.S. is on a continual increase, at least for financially comfortable white men. For the poor, women and minorities the picture is not so rosy, according a research published in PloS Medicine. Overall life expectancy in the U.S. increased more than seven years for men and more than six years for women between 1960 and 2000. Over the same four decades, however, this report finds the gains not reaching many parts of the country; rather, the life expectancy of a significant segment of the population is actually declining or at best stagnating. Read more....

NBC Today Show Features Couple Married for 83 Years

Minnesota duo’s longevity earns place in ‘Guinness World Records’

March 17, 2008 - “The year was 1925. Calvin Coolidge was president, Adolf Hitler released the first part of his book, “Mein Kampf,” Charlie Chaplin’s big movie was “The Gold Rush,” flappers were singing and dancing to “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “I’m Sitting on Top of the World,” the Scopes Trial played out in Tennessee, the first television images were broadcast, Al Capone ruled the streets of Chicago... Read more and link to video in story.

Aging News & Information

U.S. Life Expectancy Not Increasing for Everyone – Just Best Educated, Males

Those with less than high school education and females don’t age so well in Harvard study

March 11, 2008 – Yes, we are living longer in the U.S. but if you thought that applied to everyone, you are in for a surprise. Now we learn this expanse in life expectancy only applies to those with more than a high school education. And, women fare worse than men – the less educated women actually show a slight decline in life expectancy at age 25. Read more...

Long Life Mostly Determined by Choices We Make as Senior Citizens, Study Finds

People living passed 100 even with chronic diseases they battle for many years

Feb. 11, 2008 – Only about a fourth of the variations that determine how long we live can be blamed on genetics. The other 75 percent appear to be associated with risk factors we can control. For example, a new study says lifestyle choices by men in the early elderly years – including weight control, regular exercise and not smoking – go a long way in determining those that will live to reach age 90. Read more...

Calorie Restriction Prolongs Life and Scientist Find Genes that May Cause It

SIRT3 and SIRT4 may be targets for drug treatments to stimulate fight against aging

Sept. 20, 2007 - For nearly 70 years scientists have known that caloric restriction prolongs life. In everything from yeast to primates, a significant decrease in calories can extend lifespan by as much as one-third. In a new study, however, scientists have focused on two genes they think come out fighting against the diseases of aging, when provoked by something like calorie restriction. Read more...

Oldest Living Man Celebrates 112th Birthday in Japan

Tomoji Tanabe does not drink or smoke but reads his newspaper daily

Sept. 18, 2007 – It was happy birthday yesterday for the world’s oldest man, Tomoji Tanabe, who turned 112. Saying again that he wants to live forever, Tanabe does not drink alcohol or smoke. He does read his newspaper every day and write in his diary. Read more...

New Record Reached in U.S. Life Expectancy but Heart Disease Remains Biggest Killer

Child born in 2005 should live to about 78 years of age, says CDC

Sept. 13, 2007 – The latest government statistics show longevity in the U.S. has reached a new high – a child born in 2005 can expect to live to almost age 78 (77.9). The study also finds that heart disease is still the main reason we are dying, although, the death rate from heart disease dropped significantly from 2004 to 2005 – 3.1%. But the biggest drop in death risk was from cerebrovascular diseases (stroke), where the rate dropped 6.8%. Read more...

Life Expectancy Improves but Premature Death Risk Still Significant

Study finds public perceives death risk much lower that reality

Sept. 4, 2007 - Findings from a new study show that while mortality rates in the United States have decreased since the 1970s, the risk of premature death for those in their typical working years, ages 25-64, is still significant - a greater than 1-in-6 chance for males and a 1-in-9 chance for females of not surviving from age 25 to normal retirement age. These odds are much higher than most Americans perceive. Read more...

Senior Citizens Living in Poverty Decline in 2006 but Not for Younger People

U.S. poverty rate does decline for first time in Bush era

Aug. 28, 2007 – The nation’s poverty rate declined in 2006 for the first time since George W. Bush became president – 12.6% in 2005 down to 12.3% in 2006. Senior citizens (65 and older), however, saw even a bigger drop – 10.1% in 2005 down to 9.4% last year. The new U.S. Census Bureau report also found that median household income in the U.S. climbed between 2005 and 2006, reaching $48,200. This is the second consecutive year that income has risen. Read more...

Health and Retirement Study Highlights Published in New Book by NIA

Premier study of Americans 50-plus by U. Michigan Social Research

Aug. 13, 2007 – Those who follow the news and information on aging are aware of increasing number of studies that reference data from the Health & Retirement Study. The National Institute on Aging, sponsor of this ongoing national survey of Americans age 50 and over, is now making available a comprehensive publication, Growing Older in American: The Health & Retirement Study. Read more...

Senior Citizens Most Likely to Say Bible is Literally True, Gallup Finds

Least educated most likely to believe Bible is actual word of God

May 27, 2007 – Senior citizens are more likely than most other American adults to believe the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally word for word, according to a report from the Gallup News Service released Friday. About one-third of all adults have this belief but those over age 65 lead the age groups slightly at 35%. Read more...

Two Personality Traits Linked to Health and Longevity

Emotional stability and conscientiousness make a healthy personality

April 5, 2007 - Psychologists studying the question of what makes a healthy personality have identified at least two of five major traits as being directly related to physical well being and longevity: emotional stability and conscientiousness. More to the point, wellness is linked to changes in these traits over time. Read more...

Oldest Americans More in Sync with Modern Times Than Many Think

Centenarians credit longevity to 'Faith' over genes, medical care

April 3, 2007 – Centenarians – those who have attained age 100 – are more in tune with current trends than many assume. One out of three has watched a TV reality show and almost that many have watched music videos, according to the second annual survey by Evercare. As was found in the first survey last year, the oldest Americans attribute their longevity to faith and spiritual care more than genes or medical care. Read more...

Life Expectancy Gap Narrows Between Blacks and Whites

Gap still substantial: 6.3 years for men and 4.5 years for women

	View video

March 21, 2007 - Reductions in the death rate from homicide, HIV disease, unintentional injuries and - among women - heart disease have contributed to narrowing the life expectancy gap between blacks and whites in the United States, although substantial inequalities and challenges remain, according to a study in the March 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more...

Nine Trends in Global Aging Present Challenges, Says U.S. Study

Report presented at State Department Summit on Global Aging

March 16, 2007 – While the world has successfully learned to live longer, this longevity presents many new challenges that will require cooperative planning by the world's nations, says a new report, Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective, which was presented yesterday at the Summit on Global Aging, hosted by the U.S. State Department in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging. Read more...

Emma Tillman Dies After Holding Title as Oldest Living Person for Four Days

	Yone Minagawa, 114, world's oldest living person

New oldest living person, Yone Minagawa, 114, of Fukuoka, Japan

January 30, 2007 - Emma Faust Tillman, an 114-year-old American, who was once a servant for actress Katharine Hepburn, died on Sunday, January 28, just four days after gaining the title as the world's oldest living person. Her reign was the shortest on record, says Robert Young, senior consultant for gerontology for Guinness World Records. Read more...

Oldest Living Person Dies and American Woman Takes the Title

New oldest living person, Emma Faust Tillman, just became oldest woman on January 18

January 24, 2007 – Emiliano Mercado del Torro, the oldest living person in the world has died at 115 years of age. He was also the oldest living U.S. army veteran. Del Torro had been the world's oldest living man since Nov. 19, 2004, but only gained the title for both sexes on December 11, 2006, when Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden of Tennessee died at 116. Read more...

America's Emma Tillman is World's Oldest Living Woman after Death of Canadian

Julie Bertrand, also oldest living Canadian, held title for only weeks

	Oldest Woman		Former Title Holder		Oldest Person
	Emma Tillman		Julie Bertrand		Del Toro

January 20, 2007 – Julie Winnefred Bertrand, the oldest living woman in the world and oldest living Canadian, died on January 18. The 115-year-old from Quebec held the Guinness World Record as oldest living woman for just a few weeks, attaining the title on December 11, 2006. Emma Faust Tillman, a 114-year-old American, who was once a servant for actress Katharine Hepburn, not takes the title, which was held by another Afro-American woman from the U.S., Elizabeth Bolden, until she died at 116 last December. The oldest person in the world, and oldest man, is Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico. Read more...

Gerald Ford Dies as Oldest Surviving U.S. President

December 27, 2006 – Gerald R. Ford, who turned 93 last July 14 and became the oldest living former U.S. President on November 12, has died. A statement by Ford's office said he "died peacefully" at 6:45 p.m. yesterday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. His death leaves three surviving former presidents: Bill Clinton, 60, George H. W. Bush, 82, and Carter, 82. Read more with links to key information at CNN, click here.

How Long Can You Expect to Live, How You May Die Projected by Census Bureau

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

December 16, 2006 – "Adults and teens will spend nearly five months (3,518 hours) next year watching television, surfing the Internet, reading daily newspapers and listening to personal music devices," so says the lead paragraph in the news release from the U.S. Census Bureau announcing the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007. But, let's dig down to the important information, like how long are we expected to live now days and how might we meet our end. That information is there, too. Read more...

Bolden was oldest person, again. Photo by Dave Darnell, Commercial Appeal. Click here for latest news.

America's Lizzie Bolden Dies at 116 as World's Oldest Person

Oldest person now Puerto Rican man who is also oldest living U.S. veteran

December 12, 2006 – Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden, maybe the only person ever to be declared the "oldest living person" in the world on two occasions, died yesterday in a Tennessee nursing home at the age of 116. The new title holder is Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico, already recognized as the oldest living man in the world, who was listed yesterday by the Gerontology Research Group as being 115 years and 112 days old. Del Toro is also the oldest living U.S. veteran. (Read more below this news story.) Read more...

Gerald Ford Becomes Oldest Living Former President

November 13, 2006 – As further evidence that we are living longer, it should be noted that Gerald R. Ford passed a milestone on Sunday, November 12. He became the oldest living U.S. President ever. Ford turned 93 on July 14 and took the honor held by Ronald Reagan at 93 years and 121 days.

Lady Bird Johnson, who will be 94 next month, is the oldest living former first lady. She has awhile to go, however, before catching up with the longest living first lady, Bess Truman, who died at age 97 in 1982.

Just Three Percent of Senior Citizens have Proficient Health Literacy

Do not understand medical instructions, 29% lack basic literacy

September 12, 2006 - Senior citizens have much lower literacy skills than younger Americans and it is identified as a particular problem when in comes to understanding medical instructions, according to a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics on a study of 2003. Read more...

Senior Citizens Becoming More Interested in Labor Day Break

Older Americans leading growth in American workforce

September 4, 2006 – Labor Day is becoming a more important holiday for senior citizens, as a larger percentage of Americans age 65 and older are joining the workforce. Older Americans are the fastest growing age group of American workers and this is expected to continue. Read more...

American Becomes Oldest Living Person in the World for Second Time

Replaces woman from Ecuador who died days short of 117th birthday

August 29, 2006 – An American woman, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden, has become the oldest living woman and person in the world - for the second time. This time she was given the title as the result of the death on August 27 of Maria Esther Capovilla of Ecuador, who was found to be older than Bolden last December and given the recognition Bolden had held since last August. Read more...

Senior Citizens Most Concerned about Health; Get News from Doctor and Internet

Primarily want to maintain mental ability – fear Alzheimer's the most

August 23, 2006 – About seven out of ten senior citizens are concerned about their health and wellbeing and 80 percent try to keep up with health news – mostly from their doctor, but secondly on the Internet. Preserving their mental function is the biggest health concern and Alzheimer's is the disease they fear most. These are part of the findings in a survey of American ages 63 to 80 for UnitedHealthcare's SecureHorizons. Read more...

Senior Citizens Now 12.1 Percent of  Population; New Census Report Highlights Cities Since 2000

San Francisco has highest percent of seniors and highest median age, Phoenix the lowest

August 21, 2006 – Cities with the highest and lowest percentage of senior citizens were identified by the U.S. Census Bureau last week in a report released last week that the agency says is the first time it has released key demographic and social data for areas with populations of 65,000 or more. It is an updated look at how the population has changed since Census 2000. The report says over 12 percent of Americans are now senior citizens and the median age has reached 36.4 years. Read more...

Boomers May Feel Burdened by Aging Parents but Seniors See it Differently

Assisting children doesn't end with empty nest – or even when you retire

August 18, 2006 – There are many articles and studies showing how Baby Boomers are burdened by their aging parents. There is, however, a flip-side to this. Senior citizens are finding that providing assistance to their children doesn’t end when they leave the nest – or even when you retire. Read more...

Senior Citizens Most Likely to say Public did not Need to Know about Feds Checking Bank Accounts

The 65 and over group again out of step with younger Americans

August 8, 2006 – A new survey today again proves that senior citizens are out of sync with younger Americans. The new study found that most Americans feel the news media told the public something they needed to know about, when reporting on the government secretly examining the bank records of American citizens who may have ties to terrorist groups. But, about half think it hurt rather than helped. Senior citizens were be far the most likely to think it hurt and to say it is something Americans did not need to know about. Read more...

Chronic Diseases are Leading Causes of Death among Senior Citizens

Heart disease and cancer remain top killers of older Americans

August 7, 2006 - Heart disease and cancer have been the two leading causes of death for senior citizens - persons 65 years of age and older - for the past two decades, accounting for nearly a million deaths in 2002, according to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is a quick look at chronic disease among senior citizens and more about the causes of their deaths. Read more...

National Institutes of Health Looking for Families that Live Long, Healthy Lives

July 20, 2006 – Do people in your family live long, healthy lives? If, "Yes," the National Institutes of Health wants to hear from you. They think longevity tends to run in families and they want to learn more about factors that contribute to it. Read more...

Statistics on Senior Citizen

Senior Citizens Not in Step with Younger Americans on Global Warming

Seniors among least likely believers, most likely to say they just don't know

July 15, 2006 – While the vast majority of Americans (70%) think there is solid evidence that the earth is getting warmer, senior citizens are not so easily convinced. Only 66% of senior citizens (age 65 and older) think the evidence is solid, about the same percentage as those under 30. The older Americans, however, who have seen a lot more weather than younger people, were the group most likely to say they just don't know (15%). Read more...

Senior Citizens By Far the Least Likely to Talk on Cell Phone While Driving

Older people are most likely to think it dangerous and least likely to do it

June 9, 2006 - If you encounter a driver talking on a cell phone, it is probably not a senior citizen. Despite knowing that driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time is dangerous, a large majority of drivers with cell phones still talk on the cell phone and drive at the same time. Senior citizens, however, are the most likely to think it is dangerous and the less likely to do it. Read more...

Senior Citizens Least Likely to Think Man Evolved

Almost half of Americans, most seniors believe humans did not evolve

May 5, 2006 – A recent Gallup Poll shows that almost half of Americans believe that human beings did not evolve, but were created by God in their present form within the last 10,000 years. The major difference by age in these beliefs is among senior citizens aged 65 and older, who are less likely to believe that humans evolved than those who are younger. Read more...

Senior Citizens at Odds with Young Americans over Gay Rights

Trend toward expanded acceptance stalled in recent years

May 31, 2006 – The Gallup Poll looked at gay rights today and found – not surprisingly – the youngest adults the most supportive and senior citizens the most negative. Read more...

Almost 14 Million Senior Citizens Now Online

Estimated 172 million U.S. adults Online – 77% of population

May 28, 2006 – A Harris Poll released last week shows there are now 172 million American adults online and almost 14 million of those are senior citizens age 65 and older. Seniors online are eight percent of the total, which has increased by five percent since last year. Read more...

Older Americans Most Pessimistic About Future for Children

The future ain't what it used to be, say senior citizens

May 5, 2006 - The idea that each generation of children will grow up to be better off than the one that preceded it has always been a part of the American dream. But barely a third of adults expect things to work out that way for today's children, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Read more...

Facts about Senior Citizens Packaged by Census Bureau

May is Older Americans Month and here are facts seniors may not know

Americans Living Longer, Men Gain on Women in 2004

CDC releases report shows death rate at record low for 2004

April 20, 2006 – A report released yesterday shows life expectancy continues to increase and the gap between women, who live the longest, and men has narrowed for the second year in a row. Life expectancy for those born in 2004, says the analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control, was 77.9 years. For females, however, it was 80.4 to 75.2 for men. Read more...

White Senior Citizens Declining Rapidly as Percent of Older Population

Immigration reform highlights changing population demographics

April 11, 2006 – The large immigration reform marches in the last few days have heightened awareness of the changing demographics of the U.S. population. The changes in racial or place of origin backgrounds are also taking place in the senior citizen age group (65 and over). In 2003, non-Hispanic Whites represented about 83% of the older population but that percentage is projected by the U.S. Census Bureau to drop to 72% by 2030, and even further to only 61% by 2050. Read more...

Fewer Seniors Working but They Are Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

U.S. Census Bureau report on seniors looks at work and retirement

March 11, 2006 – The percent of older men - senior citizens 65 and older - in America's workforce declined dramatically over the past decades from 46 percent in 1950 to only 19 percent in 2003, but for senior women there has been no change. But many seniors continue to work, many part-time, primarily because they enjoy their work. These are some of the findings about older workers in a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau, that also says older workers are relatively healthy, prosperous, and well educated. Read more...

Most Comprehensive Analysis of Aging in America Published by Census Bureau

Report looks at past and future of booming population of senior citizens

March 9, 2006 - The face of aging in the United States is changing dramatically — and rapidly, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Today’s older Americans are very different from their predecessors, living longer, having lower rates of disability, achieving higher levels of education and less often living in poverty. And the baby boomers, the first of whom celebrated their 60th birthdays in 2006, promise to redefine further what it means to grow older in America. Many of the statistics have been published before but this is the most complete packaging and analysis to-date. Read more...

Simple Test for Seniors, Boomers to Rate Risk of Dying in Four Years

Researches say all 50 or over can do it by answering just 12 questions

Feb. 16, 2006 - Researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center have created an index that is 81 percent accurate in predicting the likelihood of death within four years for Baby Boomers and senior citizens age 50 and older. See charts below for taking test, life expectancy tables, determining body mass index). Read more...