CBS Sunday Morning interviewed Valter Longo for a story on the remarkable prevalence of centenarians on the island of Sardinia in Italy. When asked about genetics versus lifestyle and their impact on longevity, Longo said, “If you think about an athlete that wins lots of gold medals, you probably have to have the genetics. But then you have to have the training, et cetera, et cetera. So, I think that the genetics set you up, but they’re not gonna get you there alone. So then, the lifestyle, and particularly the food, is a key factor.”
Healthline quoted Valter Longo in an article on the science behind “anti-aging” diets. Longo said part of the challenge is that researchers, scientists, and clinicians often work in isolation. “What’s missing is a multi-disciplinary approach. If you put all [the research] together, you get a very different picture — with certain nutritional interventions not only consistently associated with health, but also with longevity.”
Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY) mentioned the USC Family Caregiver Support Center and director Donna Benton in an article about caregiving and isolation in the Black community. Community leader Bobbe Akalonu began attending a support group and caregiver meetings held on the USC campus and then worked with Benton to start a caregiver support group at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. “We’ve been a part of the focus groups that come out of research that relates to not only caregiving, but elders who are experiencing the isolation of this particular period of time,” Akalonu said. “The School of Gerontology at USC is the oldest one in the world. And they are critical to some of the research that’s being done with elders. So, I felt that with the match and the mix of experiences for caregivers, you benefit from something that is a part of a positive interaction rather than a negative one.”
Finger Lakes Times mentioned research by Caleb Finch and Berenice Benayoun in an article on differences in lifespan between men and women. Finch said trying to tease out what’s affecting our aging is like analyzing a “hoard of arrows shot into the air” at the same time but traveling at different rates. Genes and hormones matter, but “the role of culture and society in shaping the outcomes is also huge and not easy to define at the molecular level.”
The Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education Administrative Leadership Honor recognizes extraordinary efforts in advancing gerontology education.
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MindBodyGreen mentioned Valter Longo in an article on eating for longevity.
USC Annenberg Media quoted student Kelly Vuong about the difficulties students face making friends on campus during the pandemic. “Some folks are simply just trying to go to school and then retreat back to their homes rather than lingering around and socializing as they probably may have done in the past.”
Studying neural stem cells could shed light on how environmental aspects interact with genetic risk factors for dementia, says University Professor Caleb Finch.
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Victor Wilson helps older adults improve their strength, flexibility and balance. With a Master of Arts in Gerontology, he’ll take his mission of healthy aging through fitness to a new level.
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for international collaboration and effective solutions for challenges posed by aging populations.
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