Abstract

Dr Larson has joined us at the Institute of Public Health for a three month sabbatical from his home base in Seattle at the Group Health Research Institute, which he directs.

Dr Larson will be introduced by Dr Fiona Matthews, principal statistician for the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (CFAS)and programme leader at the Biostatistics Unit on statistical aspects of ageing epidemiology.

The 20th Century saw a dramatic increase in people living to advanced old age. The 20th century also was dramatically changed by the demographic bulge known as the Baby Boomers who are now just entering old age. They are more aware of the consequences of living to old-old age than any other generation, having experienced first hand large numbers of people aging to over 90 in their parents’ generation. Previously outspokenly committed to staying young, and “not trusting anyone over 30,” the Boomers have changed every epoch, especially their 60s and 70s, they have traversed. Given their intimate knowledge of the consequences of old-old age, plus the many advances in contemporary knowledge of aging, they have the potential to adopt an enlightened approach to aging and thereby dramatically change the way we approach aging. This seminar will review insights from aging research (our own and others’) to show the potential ways Boomers can change aging.

Like the 1960s: “The times they are a changin’” and “things aren’t like they used to be.” The boom the Baby Boomers leave as they become the Long Baby Boom could be the biggest boom of all.