Preliminary Contents UNIT 1. The Phenomenon of Aging 1. 34672 Elderly Americans, Christine L. Himes, Population Bulletin , December 2001 The author points out the ever-growing number and percentage of the American population comprising persons 65 years of age and older. Further, she observes that those over 65 are living longer than previous generations. Currently those 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the elderly population. 2. 39698 The Economic Conundrum of an Aging Population, Robert Ayres, World Watch , September/October 2004 The drop in the crude birth rate and an increase in life expectancy have resulted in the aging of the population in a large number… of industrialized affluent countries throughout the world. The author examines the effect of a smaller labor force and a larger older retired population on these nations’ economies and productivity. 3. 43359 Living Longer, Joe Treen, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, Susan Crandell, AARP The Magazine , September/October 2006 This article points out the current findings in the area of science , diet and exercise that if followed would increase the individual’s life expectancy by a number of years. 4. 36819 Puzzle of the Century, Mary Duenwald, Smithsonian , January 2003 The higher-than-average number of Nova Scotians that live to 100 years and beyond has led researchers to try to determine if this is a result of genetics or lifestyle. 5. 28883 Will You Live to Be 100? (as seen in Modern Maturity, Nov/Dec 1999), Thomas Perls and Margery Hutter Silver, Living to 100 , 1999 After completing a study of 150 centenarians, Harvard Medical School researchers Thomas Perls and Margery Hutter Silver developed a quiz to help you calculate your estimated life expectancy. 6. 47190 Can We Slow Aging?, David Sinclair, M.D. and Anthony L. Kamaroff, M.D., Newsweek , December 11, 2006 The authors point out how resveratrol, a substance found in red wine, slowed the process of aging in mice. They raise questions about whether it would or would not have the same effect on humans. UNIT 2. The Quality of Later Life 7. 47191 Stop Smoking and Benefits Come Quickly, Jan Chait, Terre Haute Tribune-Star , May 10, 2007 The author outlines in detail the number of different ways your health will improve if you quit smoking. These improvements begin within 20 minutes after you have quit and continue for the next 15 years. 8. 47192 Lifetime Achievements, , Harvard Health Letter , July 2006 Harvard Medical School has developed a quiz that older persons can take to determine the number of health risks they are experiencing and how these are likely to affect their chances for survival or mortality. 9. 34676 We Can Control How We Age, Lou Ann Walker, Parade , September 16, 2001 A Harvard study followed individuals from their teens into their eighties and as a result gives specific recommendations for what individuals can do to improve their chances of aging