July 2, 2012

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Diving seabirds reach their 30s and then die swiftly and unexpectedly, showing little signs of aging prior to their death. Studying these birds could help us understand the aging process and provide critical insights for our aging citizens.

Researchers studied Guillemots which look similar to penguins but can fly over four summers. During this time, they periodically tracked Brnnichs guillemots fitness, recording depth and for how long they would dive for prey, how far and fast they would fly, and how much energy they used on these activities. They also looked for changes in the birds behavior and metabolism.

Guillemots have the highest flight outlay of any bird and use large amounts of energy for diving. Their high metabolisms and frequent dives should produce oxidative stress, causing the birds to weaken as they age. However, the researchers discovered that the birds stay fit and active as they grow older, maintaining their flying, diving, and foraging abilities.

Kyle Elliott, a PhD student at the University of Manitoba and the studys lead author, said, Most of what we know about aging is from studies of short-lived round worms, fruit flies, mice, and chickens, but long-lived animals age differently. We need data from long-lived animals, and one good example is long-lived seabirds.

Elliott also said, Not only do these birds live very long, but they maintain their energetic lifestyle in a very extreme environment into old age.

One bird, nicknamed Wayne Gretzky by the researchers (after the Canadian hockey great who played 20 seasons and because the birds band of colors matched Gretzkys team colors), raised young for 18 uninterrupted years.

The findings will be presented today at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting in Salzburg.

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What Diving Seabirds Can Tell Us About Our Own Longevity

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Article Reports Protandim(R) Protects Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells Against Oxidative Challenge

SALT LAKE CITY, June 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeVantage Corporation (LFVN), the leader in Nrf2 science and the maker of Protandim(R), the Nrf2 Synergizer(R) patented dietary supplement, announced today that a new peer-reviewed original research article involving Protandim was recently published in the scientific journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

The study, conducted by researchers at Colorado State University, examined cells in vitro that line the vessels involved in coronary artery disease and demonstrated that Protandim induced the movement of the transcription factor Nrf2 into the nuclei of the cells. It also showed significant Protandim-dependent increases in phase II protective enzymes, including heme oxygenase-1, superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione reductase, and the antioxidant enzyme NQO1. When cells were challenged with oxidative stress by a four-hour exposure to hydrogen peroxide, 35% of control cells died via apoptosis whereas cells pretreated with Protandim for 12 hours were protected seven-fold, resulting in only a 5% death rate by apoptosis. Finally, experiments using the small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique to block the cells' ability to produce Nrf2, confirmed that Protandim's mechanism of action is indeed Nrf2-dependent, in both specific enzyme induction and functional protection of the cells from oxidative stress.

"The cells studied in this project represent 'ground zero,' the epicenter for damage that results in human coronary artery disease. Much research suggests that this damage begins with oxidative stress," said Dr. Joe McCord, LifeVantage Chief Science Officer. "It is impressive that the activation of Nrf2 produces such significant resistance and protection against oxidative stress in these cells."

"This work was conceived and conducted by investigators at Colorado State University, with funding provided by CSU Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility Academic Enrichment Program and a Colorado State University CAHS mini-grant," stated Douglas Robinson, LifeVantage President and CEO. "LifeVantage greatly appreciates the remarkable academic interest in Protandim shown by researchers such as Drs. Karyn Hamilton and Ben Miller, the study's co-principal investigators, and their colleagues. This scholarly contribution underscores the potential being recognized by the biomedical research community for Protandim with regard to health conditions associated with oxidative stress."

Authored by Elise L. Donovan, Benjamin F. Miller, Joe M. McCord, Danielle J. Reuland, and Karyn L. Hamilton, the study titled, "Phytochemical Activation of Nrf2 Protects Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells against an Oxidative Challenge," is published in the open access online journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2012, Article ID 132931, doi:10.1155/2012/132931.

The study may be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22685617.

About Protandim(R) The Nrf2 Synergizer(R)

Protandim(R), the Nrf2 Synergizer(R), is a clinically demonstrated supplement that provides substantial benefits for healthy aging by activating Nrf2. Nrf2 is a protein messenger contained in every cell of the body. When activated, Nrf2 enters the cell nucleus and turns on hundreds of survival genes, defensive, stress responsive, cytoprotective genes that enable cells to survive in the face of several different kinds of stress, particularly oxidative stress. This patented Nrf2-activating therapy works in a very different way than conventional antioxidant supplements. Unlike vitamin or carotenoid-containing products that have proven to be largely ineffective in reducing oxidative stress caused by free radicals, Protandim is an indirect antioxidant therapy, which has been demonstrated to stimulate the body's production of its own powerful antioxidant enzymes and other stress-related gene products. Protandim works at the cellular level, and has been shown to trigger cells to naturally increase production of protective antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione synthase, while decreasing production of pro-inflammatory signals.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, Protandim is considered a "dietary supplement". LifeVantage products are not intended to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease.

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LifeVantage Announces Protandim(R) Subject of New Peer-Reviewed Article

This one is going to take some getting used to.

Matt Kenseth's first start at NASCAR's highest level was in 1998 at Dover, where he drove a No. 98 car in relief of Bill Elliott, whose father had passed away. The sixth-place effort turned in by the Wisconsin native that Sunday ranked as the best debut by a Cup newcomer since Rusty Wallace had finished second in Atlanta 18 years earlier. In every event that Kenseth has run since in what is now Sprint Cup, all 451 of them entering Saturday night's race at Kentucky Speedway, he has been behind the wheel of the No. 17.

It's as much a part of him as his steady driving style or his dry sense of humor, and it's going to be very odd seeing him drive anything else -- although that will be the case next season, given the news Tuesday that the 2003 champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner will part ways with Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the year. Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., as much a star in the making as Kenseth was in that first race at Dover all those years ago, will step into the No. 17 next season, and his predecessor will move on to a new organization that's yet to be determined.

This isn't a total shock. For some time now, Roush Fenway has had too many good drivers and not enough cars and sponsors, and the team needed to do something to ensure that Stenhouse would stay in the fold. Kenseth is in a contract year, and even for him, he's been exceedingly tight-lipped when asked about his status. His sponsorship situation was patchwork at best, forcing Roush Fenway to occasionally fund the car on its own. There are other drivers out there in the final years of their contracts, and cars with sponsorship that would be available should teams decide to take action. Kenseth, who would be an upgrade almost anywhere he goes, wrote on Twitter that he has nothing yet to announce for 2013. But it's difficult to believe a driver as smart as he is would make such a move without a plan.

Regardless, it's going to be very strange to see Kenseth paired with another car number, given how much personal investment he's poured into the No. 17. No, he hasn't been synonymous with any certain sponsor, and he hasn't worn the same color firesuit for his entire stint with owner Jack Roush. But other than Mark Martin, who put Roush's team on the map and gave it year-in, year-out credibility, there's been no more important driver to the organization. It was Kenseth who brought Roush his first premier-series championship after years of painfully close calls, and six years later he delivered the team's first victory in the Daytona 500.

"It's the end of an incredible run between Jack and Matt, one that has spanned 15 years, which in his day and age of professional sports is much longer than you'd expect," said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. "So we're proud of everything that's been accomplished there."

But it all goes much deeper than the time span. Even after Kenseth leaves, his fingerprints will be all over his former organization. Robbie Reiser, the Roush Fenway general manager often credited with helping to build the team into the three-headed monster it is now, came up with Kenseth on the Wisconsin late-model circuit and broke through first as the driver's car owner, and later as a championship-winning crew chief. And then there's Kenseth himself, who often has been given the latitude to mold the No. 17 team as he sees fit, making crew chief changes and maintaining a degree of supervision over that program that not all elite drivers have.

Yes, it's going to be an odd transition, and not just because of the car number -- although if you remember a press release touting a new associate sponsor for this season, one that allegedly entailed a new numeral on the side of Kenseth's vehicle, it did not sit well with the masses. Yes, Tony Stewart left the No. 20. Yes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. walked away from the No. 8. But neither of those drivers were in those cars for as long as Kenseth has been in the No. 17. Stewart may have won a pair of championships in his former ride, but until he became an owner, he couldn't match Kenseth's de facto management role. Earnhardt had the level of personal investment at Dale Earnhardt Inc. but couldn't match his friend's results on the race track.

Kenseth did it all. He didn't just drive the No. 17; when times were tough, he bled over it. Roush might have owned the vehicle, but no one held more of a sense of ownership in it than Kenseth. When he faced struggles like those that followed his back-to-back wins at Daytona and Fontana to open the 2009 season, he seemed to take them personally. When it came time to shuffle personnel to try and get things back on track, Kenseth played an active role in shaping the direction of the program. Some crew chief moves -- and there were a few of them back then, until Jimmy Fennig arrived from the research and development department to straighten everything out -- were solely the driver's call.

Surely, Kenseth will bring that same level of involvement to whatever organization becomes his next home. His sudden availability only will tighten the microscope around drivers like Joey Logano and AJ Allmendinger, who are in contract years at Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing, respectively. This isn't Kurt Busch, burning bridges when no others are available. This is a championship-caliber driver with a good reputation and a strong work ethic who would fit in well at a number of places and will absolutely land on his feet.

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Caraviello: Kenseth's impact goes beyond wins, longevity

By Shelby Freedman Harris, Psy.D. for YouBeauty.com

We know about the benefits of a good nights sleep -- better memory, attention, concentration and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Sleep improves our mood; it makes us feel like we can do more in the day and gives us a better outlook on life. But in addition to helping us live productive lives, sleep is key to feeling and looking youthful. Here are five surefire ways.

1. You Look More Attractive To Others In a 2010 study published in the British Medical Journal, a group of Swedish investigators looked at whether sleep-deprived people were perceived as less healthy, less attractive and more tired than after a normal nights sleep. Twenty-three healthy adults were photographed after a normal nights sleep (about eight hours) and again after a night of sleep deprivation (31 hours of wakefulness!). The photos were presented to 65 untrained observers who rated them. Results indicated that sleep-deprived people appear less healthy, less attractive and more tired when compared to photographs taken after a full night's sleep.

More from YouBeauty.com: Sleep And Your Skin Tricks to Get a Good Night's Sleep QUIZ: Are You Getting Beauty Sleep?

The authors proposed that humans may be sensitive to sleep-related facial cues, and that these cues may affect your social life in big ways. For example, if someone is well-qualified for a job but hadnt slept well for a few nights, employers might perceive the candidate as being less healthy and more tired -- putting the candidate at risk of not getting hired.

What exactly is going on during those precious sleep-filled hours at night thats keeping us looking and feeling young? A lot.

2. You Stay Fitter As we wrote in Sleep More and Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans, sleep helps you manage your weight. Consistently getting less sleep than you actually need per night leads to slow and steady weight gain. This weight gain can impact how others view you (unhealthy, tired) and how you may view yourself (tired, unmotivated). If you sleep more, youll find it easier to lose weight and will even have more energy to exercise. It is also commonly accepted now that exercise helps us feel younger both physically and mentally.

3. Your Skin Glows Skin grows a lot in our sleep. We develop nearly 30 times more skin while asleep than when awake. Notice those dark circles and bags under your eyes after a poor nights sleep? The skin of a healthy sleeper is more elastic, supple and taut. The more you get a full nights sleep, the more youll have that youthful glow.

4. You're Quicker To Move, And Learn Our mind and bodies learn new things while we sleep. Studying the night before a big test and then getting a full nights sleep can solidify the material in your brain. Pulling an all-nighter without sleep can actually make it more difficult to learn new material. But more than just brain cells learn and grow throughout the night! Our muscles, ligaments and tissues all learn new routines to help us physically maneuver throughout the world --whether it is to help with balance, new dance moves or picking up a new sport.

5. You Boost Your "Youth" Hormones Finally, human growth hormone (HGH) has its highest production during slow-wave sleep. HGH is a key player in keeping us looking young even after weve finished growing. HGH is produced by the pituitary gland and is in high levels during childhood and adolescence. After weve grown, HGH levels drop off and stay at low, steady levels during adulthood. Deficiencies in HGH can lead to reduced muscle mass, slower metabolism, more belly fat and sagging skin. Sleep more, and youll likely increase your HGH levels.

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Sleep And Longevity: 5 Ways Sleep Keeps You Young

BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire -06/20/12)- As people continue to live longer and retire earlier, the term "Third-Stage Adulthood" has more relevance than ever before. Referring to people 62-85 years old, this stage of life is chock-full of senior workers who are qualified and ready to continue working after the traditional retirement age of 65 or sooner. This means that there is a large and growing talent pool with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment, and proven performance (referred to by CPL as EESP), to meet the workforce needs of the 21st century.

The concept of "Third-Stage Adulthood" was first conceived in a paper, "The Evolution of Adulthood: A New Stage" co-authored in 2000 by Dr. Elliott Jaques, who conceived the mid-life crisis in 1965, and CPL Founder and CEO William Zinke. Zinke created CPL, which is based in Boulder, Colorado, to stimulate the substantially increased engagement of people 55 and older in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value.

Now in 2012, the concept of Third-Stage Adulthood is even more important than when the term was coined. CPL urges everyone to recalibrate their thinking for this new reality because the results could be dire if action isn't taken. If Baby Boomers are pushed to the sidelines, the nation's entitlement programs (e.g. Social Security and Medicare) will become unsustainable even sooner than projected. To prevent this crisis, the country should tap the talent pool of retired workers in Third-Stage Adulthood and put their knowledge, skills and abilities to use.

"Embracing 'Third-Stage Adulthood' can be a positive life-changer as people enter this next phase," says William Zinke, 85. "The concept urges society to recognize that older people can continue to add value for significantly longer periods of time and that they should be viewed as individuals, instead of all being lumped under the clichs of being 'over the hill' and 'out of the game.' The result will be that millions of older people with EESP can continue contributing to, instead of drawing from, the national economy and society."

CPL subscribes to a concept of adulthood that falls into three stages, described as follows:

First stage of early adulthood (18-40) - the time to build experience and expertise; to decide whether to work in the private, public, or non-profit sectors and perhaps even gain some cross-sector experience; to decide whether to develop a career in a company or to become an entrepreneur; to focus on the development of particular skills and abilities; to build a solid foundation for the next two adult stages.

Second stage of mid-adulthood (40-62) - the time when experience and expertise produce problem-solving capabilities and sound judgment (CPL likes the saying that good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment) and perhaps even the beginnings of wisdom. Any mid-life crises have been traversed and assurance and self-confidence have become more firmly established as a result of learning how to function more effectively. There is also continuing growth and development during this stage.

New-stage of mature adulthood (62-85) - the time when many individuals, although not all (e.g. people who have been engaged primarily in physical labor, who have not maintained a commitment to physical fitness, or who have debilities or disabilities), can continue to be significant contributors. They have had about 40 years to gain experience and expertise, to develop seasoned judgment and proven records of performance and to build their intellectual and social capital. While documented research indicates that cognitive capability may have plateaued for some, the intellectual growth curve continues to move upward for people who have continued to remain productively engaged.

CPL launched the Later-Life Story Contest on June 1 to solicit empowering stories from people 55 and older. The competition has two separate categories: Entrepreneur Success Stories and Inspirational Later-Life Stories. A panel of three independent judges will select one winner from each category who will receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. CPL will post the best stories on its website (ctrpl.org) throughout the contest under "Success Stories." The contest runs through August 31, and winners will be announced on October 1, 2012.

To submit a story, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be at least 55, have a compelling story to share, and be willing to have it posted on the CPL website for viewing and for possible publication. Stories may also be emailed to James Hooks, CPL's Director of Marketing and Technology, at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

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Center for Productive Longevity Urges People to Shed Negative Stereotypes About Older Age

By Jennifer Abbasi, contributor

FORTUNE -- The key to living longer after retirement may simply be getting to retirement in the first place.

Our average age at death soars in the last third of life, and the longer you live, the longer you're likely to live. Why does the total number of years we're expected to live increase with age? Survival of the fittest. "As you work your way through the age range, you're essentially weeding out the frail from the population," explains Bob Anderson, chief of mortality statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "When you get to the older ages, you're left with the more robust in the population. And that continues as you move up the age range."

Death registration is mandatory in the U.S., and the CDC compiles demographic information from death certificate data filed by state vital records offices. That means we know the age of almost every person who dies in a given year -- minus a few people whose bodies are not found until later -- and why they died. Life expectancy is usually discussed as the number of years a hypothetical infant born in a certain year could be expected to live, and it's based on overall mortality statistics for that period. But the average age that, say, a 65-year-old alive in that year (2007 in our graph below) will reach will be better than that of anyone younger. That's because the older person has cleared more of life's deadly hurdles, Anderson says.

The first hump happens in the first year of life, when around 30,000 babies succumb to problems like congenital defects, prematurity and SIDS. "Once you get past that first year, then your probability of survival is quite a bit higher," Anderson says. Then come the teens and twenties, when accidents and violence peak. For men, especially, these are the risk-taking years, and ages 20-24 are known as the "accident hump." In 2007, more than 10,000 men in this age group were killed in an accident or assault. (Men's tendency to take risks is one explanation suggested for why women live longer. The protective effect of estrogen on a woman's heart is another. Estrogen declines after menopause, which may be one factor in why the life expectancy gap between the sexes narrows from five years at birth to a couple months at age 100.) Risk-aversion begins to kick in around 25, and natural causes start to rank. By 45, cancer and heart disease are the leading killers of men and women, not accidents. (Suicides, incidentally, are also most common among 45- to 49-year-olds.) Once the frail first year, the risk-taking young-adult years and the disease-prone middle age have passed, the average age a person will achieve rises dramatically. Whereas a baby girl in 2007 could be expected to reach 80, an 80-year-old woman's expected age of death was 89 that year.

Longevity in a large, aging population comes with a cost: proportionally more elderly people for every younger working person. "That means from a per capita standpoint, it's going be more expensive to maintain health care and social security," Anderson says. "Just from a demographic standpoint, it's clear to me that it makes things more expensive."

A shorter version of this story appeared in the July 12, 2012 issue of Fortune.

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The longevity sweepstakes

It was the desire of 12-year-old Leland Bruce to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree in California that became the seedling of what is now the Bruce Co.

"Lee wanted to raise enough money to travel to California, so he borrowed a tractor to plow his neighbors' gardens," said Bliss C. Nicholson, president and CEO of the Middleton-based company.

Leland's father, Leonard Bruce, was proud of his son and adamant that this was his son's business and that he was not involved in it. But when the largest sod job to happen in Wisconsin was contracted to then-15-year-old Lee, his father had to sign the contract as Lee was too young. The job was sodding the Eagle Heights development in Madison.

Celebrating 60 years this year, the company is one of the largest landscape contractors in the country. The company has branch offices of its landscape management division in Racine and Milwaukee. The company also has nearly 600 acres of nursery stock grown near Verona.

The business offers design and build landscape services for commercial and residential properties, along with irrigation systems.

The Bruce Co. also does golf course design and maintenance, with projects in 13 states and courses designed by some big names in golf including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

A recently added aquatic division features ponds and water treatments.

"We also do outdoor lighting to highlight the beauty of a landscape after sunset," said Tom Raemisch, manager of the landscape management division.

Lee Bruce, now 72, sold the business to a group of employees including Nicholson three years ago. The company has 450 to 500 employees, depending on the season, many of whom have been with the company for more than 50 years.

During the winter, the company does snow plowing and holiday decor installation.

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Longevity in Business: Bruce Co. sprouted from 12-year-old's initiative

Copyright 2010. The Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

When her doctor told her she couldn't live alone anymore, Thelma E. Burton didn't listen.

It wasn't up to the doctor, as she saw it, and Thelma, now 91, isn't a woman who lets other people make decisions for her.

Thelma Burton, 91, volunteers at the Metropolitan Better Living Center on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Burton won a Salute to Senior Service award this year for her volunteerism. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

A year passed. The doctor offered the same grim advice, but Thelma still wasn't ready to yield. She waited one year more before deciding he was right. Then she left everything and everyone she knew in California and moved into her granddaughter's Edmond home in 2007.

I've got four daughters and one son, Thelma said, and they're fine people. But I didn't want to live with them because they're too bossy. I'm independent. I like to take care of myself.

She takes care of others, too. Despite her age, she is vibrant, hardworking and relentlessly positive. Those same qualities earned her recognition earlier this year as Oklahoma's winner of the Home Instead Senior Care network's Salute to Senior Service Award.

Thelma volunteers at the Metropolitan Better Living Center, 702 NE 37, five days a week. She cooks meals at the center on special occasions, makes homemade bread rolls and encourages other seniors to stay involved in life and exercise.

I like to be active. I think that's why I'm still living. I don't like to do like most old people, she said, laughing, and I even try to help old people stay alive.

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Nonagenarian credits volunteer work for her longevity

13-06-2012 12:31 LONGEVITY offers contests on which are enjoyed and embraced by numerous registered members on Check out LONGEVITY welding products at and register for our welding forum at

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LONGEVITY WELDING CONTEST $1800.00 CASH PRIZE WINNER JUNE 3, 2012 - Video

12-06-2012 07:27 In this live recording of an AEGON Global Pensions online seminar, Chris Madsen and Martijn Tans discuss the nature of longevity risk for pension funds and how companies can protect their pension funds against longevity risk. In part 1, Chris and Martijn discuss ageing populations and the use of stochastic modelling for assessing longevity risk. They also discuss the potential impact that longevity risk has on a typical company pension plan.

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Longevity Risk and Longevity Insurance for Pensions (Part 1) - Video

12-06-2012 07:26 In this live recording of an AEGON Global Pensions online seminar, Chris Madsen and Martijn Tans discuss the nature of longevity risk for pension funds and how companies can protect their pension funds against longevity risk. In part 3, Chris and Martijn discuss longevity insurance and how pension funds can protect against longevity risk.

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Longevity Risk and Longevity Insurance for Pensions (Part 3) - Video

ByCorey Brock/MLB.com|06/12/12 10:30 PM ET

SEATTLE -- With three hits on Sunday against the Brewers, Padres outfielder Will Venable surpassed his father, Max, with 339 career hits.

SEATTLE -- Carlos Quentin had the distinction of being the Padres' first designated hitter this season. Chances are, it will happen more often than not this week.

SEATTLE -- Three hours before Tuesday's game against the Mariners, a group of Padres relievers as well as bullpen catchers Griffin Benedict and Justin Hatcher and starting catcher Nick Hundley huddled for a quick video shoot to wish bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds a happy 50th birthday.

Shortstop Everth Cabrera rejoined the Padres on Tuesday after his trial in Phoenix was canceled on Monday.

According to UT San Diego, prosecutors dismissed the case, which allowed for him to return to the team without missing any games. San Diego was off on Monday after flying late Sunday to Seattle from Milwaukee.

The trial was set for Monday to accommodate the Padres' off-day. Cabrera was charged with misdemeanor assault upon his wife, stemming from a March 16 incident in Glendale, Ariz.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Venable most impressed with dad's longevity

BOSTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Studies involving NFL and MLB players suggest evaluating an athlete's sleep helps determine his or her professional longevity, U.S. researchers said.

Sleep researcher Dr. W. Christopher Winter said he uncovered a link between a pro athlete's longevity and the degree of sleepiness experienced in the daytime.

"A team's ability to accurately judge a prospect or a potential trade in terms of the value they will get for that player is what makes or breaks many professional sport teams," Winter, a sleep adviser for Men's Health magazine, said in a statement.

The study involving football looked at 55 randomly selected college players who reached the NFL. It found sleepier athletes had only a 38 percent chance of staying with the team that originally drafted them. In comparison, 56 percent of the less sleepy players were considered a "value pick" because they stayed with their original team.

The baseball study analyzed the sleepiness scale of 40 randomly selected players and found those who reported higher levels of daytime sleepiness had attrition rates of 57 percent to 86 percent, well above the 30 percent to 35 percent major league average.

"Addressing sleepiness in players and correcting the underlying issues causing sleepiness may help to prolong a player's career," Winter said.

Winter presented the two studies at Sleep, the 26th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Boston.

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Sleep helps predict pro athlete's longevity

(CBS News) A new report shows that quitting smoking might make you live longer - regardless of how old you are.

The study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on June 11, looked at results from17 studies conducted in seven countries. Even seniors lived longer if they were willing to part with their cigarettes.

According to the researchers, smoking is one of the 10 leading risk factors for death, and takes the lives of 12 percent of males and six percent of females of the world. If current rates continue, one billion deaths due to smoking are expected in the 21st century.

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Researchers reviewed studies that ranged in duration from three to 50 years and looked at anywhere from 863 participants to more than 877,000 people. One study showed that 59 percent of non-smokers were alive at age 80, compared to 26 percent of smokers. Another study showed that those who had quit before the age of 40 had the same death rates as those who had never smoked.

The researchers also found that smokers who were 60 years and older were 83 percent more likely to die at any given age than those in the same age group who had never smoked. Some causes of death - such as cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx - increased up to 10 times for current smokers in that age group. Those who quit smoking still had a higher risk of dying at any given age compared to those who never picked up the habit - 34 percent - but it was much lower than those who never quit.

However, for those willing to quit, mortality was comparable with never-smokers the longer they had stopped using cigarettes.

"These results strongly suggest that smoking cessation is effective for mortality reduction also at older age, a suggestion that should be corroborated by intervention studies, ideally with interventions specifically designed and developed for this target group," the researchers wrote.

A weaker, yet similar correlation was also found for those who were 80 and older.

The researchers suggested that even people who smoked their whole lives without negative consequences should be encouraged to quit. Because the retirement age has been pushed back due to the need to work longer, the individual and public health burden of smoking-related illness will increase unless strides are made to help people stop.

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Quitting smoking, even after 60, may boost longevity

Son and daughter walking with their dad at sunset.

TUESDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- People whose fathers or grandfathers started having children at a later age may live longer, according to a new study.

Northwestern University researchers looked at telomere length in people in the Philippines. Telomeres are bits of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration. Longer telomeres appear to be associated with slower aging, while shorter telomeres seem to be associated with health problems that occur with aging.

[Read:Competing for Internships With Mom and Dad.]

Longer telomeres were found in people whose fathers and grandfathers began families later in life, according to the study published June 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"If your father and grandfather were able to live and reproduce at a later age, this might predict that you yourself live in an environment that is somewhat similar -- an environment with less accidental deaths or in which men are only able to find a partner at later ages," lead author Dan Eisenberg, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, said in a Northwestern news release. "In such an environment, investing more in a body capable of reaching these late ages could be an adaptive strategy from an evolutionary perspective."

The findings are fascinating, said co-author Christopher Kuzawa, an associate professor of anthropology.

"If our recent ancestors waited until later in adulthood before they reproduced, perhaps for cultural reasons, it would make sense for our bodies to prepare for something similar by investing the extra resources necessary to maintain healthy functioning at more advanced ages," Kuzawa said in the news release.

[Read:Stay at Home Moms Face Credit Card Bias.]

However, the researchers said their findings should not be interpreted to mean that men should intentionally have children at a later age. Previous research has shown that older fathers are more likely to pass along harmful genetic mutations to their children.

Originally posted here:
Older Dads May Pass on Longevity to Kids

Posted: Jun. 11, 2012 | 1:59 a.m. Updated: Jun. 11, 2012 | 8:32 a.m.

Do as they say. Not as they do.

The paychecks of some Clark County commissioners include a salary bonus they asked employees to do without in tough economic times.

And even if commissioners wanted to change it, state law says they're entitled to it.

Commissioners are paid an annual salary of $72,488. After four years, they earn longevity pay of 2 percent for each year they have served, capped at 20 percent.

But commissioners have expressed appreciation for unions that agreed to eliminate their longevity pay - an annual raise that rewards employees for their years of service - for new hires in recent contract negotiations.

If re-elected in November, commissioners Steve Sisolak and Larry Brown would be eligible for the pay.

"It clearly sends a message to people," Sisolak said. "It's definitely symbolic. We have to be cognizant of that fact. We're asking everybody else to make concessions. We've asked so much of so many groups, I think it would only be fair to participate in that."

While they have discretion over their base pay, the longevity pay component is written into state law for elected county officials throughout Nevada, meaning Clark County commissioners would have to lobby the Legislature for change or donate to charity to get rid of it.

Some have called the bonus "archaic" because the county isn't hiring as much and should not need to persuade employees to stick around in an economy with few jobs. Others characterize it as a necessity to reward loyal employees who know how county operations run.

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Longevity Pay Still On Books For County Commissioners

By Patricia Reaney

NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Genetics may be the best predictor of longevity, but lifestyle choices, including staying connected with family and friends, are key components to reaching the age of 100, according to a new poll released on Wednesday.

More than 80 percent of 100 men and women who have already hit the milestone said being socially active had helped them get there, and a similar number of baby boomers believe it will help them reach their 100th birthday.

"Scientifically we know that the formula, the best predictor, for how long someone will live has traditionally been how long their immediate relatives have lived, so we know genetics is a strong factor," said Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare, which conducted the survey.

"But we are seeing more and more that lifestyle choices -- physical exercise, diet, staying engaged, having a social purpose -- are becoming a stronger and stronger influence," she said in an interview.

Like their children and grandchildren, centenarians have turned to the Internet to stay connected.

About a quarter of 100-year-olds questioned in the telephone survey said they had access to the Web, double the number just a year ago. Of those, more than half use the Internet to view and share photos, and nearly as many send and receive email and search the Internet for information.

Centenarians were also almost as likely as baby boomers to have used an online dating service -- 6 percent of boomers, compared with 4 percent of the oldest generation.

"They are all realizing that the keys to longevity are around mental, physical and emotion health," said Randall.

About 10 percent of the 100-year-olds have watched a video on YouTube or listened to music on an iPod, according to the poll, but only 3 percent have used Facebook, and just one of them has used Twitter.

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How To Reach 100: Lifestyle Choices Vie With Genetics In Longevity

CALGARY, Alberta, June 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Invest in water management, productivity enhancement and technology optimization in the oil sands to build Canada's industrial future, says a new report from Deloitte. Putting innovation at the center of oil sands development, the report argues, will help to make Canada a leader in efficient and sustainable energy technology and produce benefits that extend far beyond not only the energy sector but also Canadian borders. The innovation imperative: A roadmap for oil sands advancement outlines how concentrated focus on innovation in these three primary areas will be crucial for an industry already laying the groundwork of a global model for responsible resource development.

"Innovation is central to leveraging our comparative advantage as a significant and democratically stable producer of energy," says Geoff Hill, a partner in Deloitte's Calgary office and national sector leader of its Oil & Gas practice. "Canada already leads the world in heavy oil technology, but achieving true progress requires sound practices and a strategic approach. This is about embedding research and development in the business culture and embracing activities and processes that lead to game-changing technologies critical for sustainable and enduring oil sands development."

Ongoing collaboration within industry, between industry and universities in the area of water innovation and management is crucial to maintaining a high-quality water supply, according to the report. The oil sands industry needs to put aside its traditionally autonomous and competitive approaches to R&D when it comes to water management, as these are increasingly out of step with the principle of sustainability. Instead, the emphasis should be on supporting research and public awareness efforts that focus on the overall importance of water as a world resource and then leading by example.

The report also notes that the sheer scale of oil sands development and the broad range of skills and technological expertise required provide a significant opportunity to help close Canada's productivity gap. Whether it's working with government to retool the immigration system, streamlining and speeding up the regulatory approval process or building consensus around the importance of R&D as a core innovation driver, the ultimate goal is to shift from trying to predict the future to creating it outright.

"Oil sands development is among the most important industrial activity in Canada to business, government and the general public," says Hill. "The innovation imperative contributes to the on-going debate around the sustainable development of this important resource, which we believe can lead to spinoff benefits, both nationally and globally, in terms of promoting Canadian-generated expertise in resource management in any number of applications."

The report also identifies five key areas in technology where targeted investment can help make continuous improvement the norm while establishing global centres of excellence. These include energy efficiency, waterless or near-waterless processes, tailings remediation, co-generation and clean technologies, and collaborative water management.

For a more detailed discussion of Deloitte's analysis and recommendations, read the full report at http://www.deloitte.com/ca/innovation-imperative.

Contact:

Sean McCann / Suzanne Settino

Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada

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Innovation in Canada's Oil Sands Key to Advancing Economic Longevity and Sustainability of Global Energy Development

Living to very old age may be "in the genes" as the saying goes, and a recent study published in the journal Aging suggests that certain personality traits make up a major part of the mix of longevity genes.

Researchers found that having a positive attitude and a sense of humor could play a role in living a longer, healthier life. They developed a questionnaire designed to identify certain genetically-based personality traits and used it to assess 243 Ashkenazi Jewish adults between 95 and 107 years of age. The investigators chose this population because their genetic similarity would make it easier to account for genetic differences in personality.

"The results indicated they had two things -- a positive attitude for life, meaning they are optimistic, easygoing, extraverted, laughed more and expressed emotions rather than bottling them up," said Dr. Nil Barzilai, a study co-author and director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Institute for Aging Research.

The study participants also were less neurotic and more conscientious than a representative sample of other Americans.

Based on census data, centenarians make up about .2 percent of the U.S. population, but the number has been rapidly increasing, the authors wrote.

Previous research has suggested that the oldest adults may be genetically predisposed to living longer and healthier both physiologically and psychologically and that personality can affect a person's physical health.

"There's an interaction between personality and physiology," said Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging. Small was not involved in Barzilai's study, but has done research in this area. "It makes sense that being more positive causes less stress and seems to get people on the right track to live better."

The genes, it turns out, play a less important role in determining longevity.

"Several studies have found that genetics accounts for only about one-third of how long and well we live," said Small, who is also co-author of "The Alzheimer's Prevention Program."

Barzilai added that it's still not known precisely how personality influences longevity.

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Positive Attitude Linked to Long Life

We've long known that exercising and eating fruits and veggies can, over the long-term, help improve both the quality and quantity of our years. But the effect of healthy behaviors on longevity among those who have already reached senior citizen status may also be strong. That's especially true when a produce-heavy diet and exercise routine have been combined, according to new research.

A study in this month's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society finds that women in their 70s who live in senior citizen communities may still be able to improve the length of their years with an exercise and healthy eating plan. The researchers studied the exercise and eating habits of 713 women, aged 70 to 79, as part of the Women's Health and Aging Studies.

They found that women with both the highest level of physical fitness, as measured by survey responses, and the highest consumption of fruits and vegetables (measured via a blood test) were eight times less likely to die than the women who performed the worst in both of these categories.

Each category, individually, was also effective. All told, women who were in the most active group at the start of the study were 71 percent less likely to die over the five-year period of study than the least active group. And among those who survived, their average serum carotenoid levels -- the compound researchers looked for in the blood tests to gauge high-produce diet -- was 12 percent higher than in the group who died.

So what's the takeaway? It's never too late to up the veggie, fruit and exercise quotients in your life -- and to great effect. This study proves that the returns to women in their 70s are significant, and that could be a good impetus for improved programming at senior facilities and among geriatric doctors.

Programs and policies to promote longevity should include interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity in older adults, lead author Dr. Emily J Nicklett, from the University of Michigan School of Social Work said in a statement.

Inspired? Check out this list of exercises that have been found to increase longevity.

In 2008, a small Swiss study found that sedentary people who switched from taking escalators and elevators to taking the stairs cut their risk of dying prematurely by 15 percent.

"This suggests that stair climbing can have major public health implications," lead researcher Dr. Philippe Meyer, told the BBC.

An earlier look at data from the Harvard Alumni Health Study also found that climbing 35 or more flights of stairs a week significantly increased longevity when compared to people who climbed fewer than 10 stories a week.

Flickr photo by mariachily

Biking to work is a great way to squeeze exercise into your day, spend some time outside and even save on gas money. But a leisurely ride, while it might leave you less sweaty upon arrival at the office, won't do as much for your lifespan as if you really ride it out.

A study of Copenhagen cyclists found that men who pedaled the fastest lived more than five years longer than slower cycling men, and the fastest women cyclists lived almost four years longer.

Flickr photo by terren in Virginia

A 2009 analysis of data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study found that men who swam regularly had about a 50 percent smaller risk of dying than sedentary men -- but swimmers also had a lower mortality rate than men who walked and ran for their exercise.

Flickr photo by West Point Public Affairs

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Exercise, Diet Improve Longevity For Older Women