It's impossible not to admire Betty White and to be inspired by her long and active life as an actress. America's "Golden Girl" passed away on New Year's Eve, just a few months short of her 100th birthday. She was 99 years old.

Doctor Steven Cummings, a research scientist at Sutter Health's California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, director of the San Francisco Coordinating Center, and principal investigator of the Longevity Consortium, described White as "the picture of aging healthfully and gracefully." White was a participant in the Longevity Consortium.

Dr. Cummings agrees with White that people are living longer lives these days. That includes the oldest of the old – that is, individuals who are 85 years or older.

"In order to live longer, healthier lives, we must have a greater understanding of how our bodies change as we age," Dr. Cummings explained.

Investigations into the aging process

Aging is a significant risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases. Furthermore, the diagnosis and treatment of many frequent chronic disorders, such as dementia, impose a major financial burden on healthcare systems and their associated budgets.

"It is past time for the public health community to make preparations for the 'older-older age wave,'" says Dr. Cummings. "

Through its affiliation with the SFCC, Sutter Health has been at the forefront of study into the science of longevity for many years. CPMC Research Institute and the San Francisco Cancer Center (SFCC) serve as the Longevity Consortium's headquarters, bringing together laboratory scientists, biostatisticians, genomic researchers, epidemiologists, and clinical investigators to better understand the genes that contribute to human aging and long lifespan. The overarching goal is to find molecular targets that can be used to intervene in the aging process in order to reduce or delay it.

"Aging research will lead to the development of preventative strategies that will help individuals stay healthier for longer periods of time and may even allow people to survive for longer periods of time," says Dr. Cummings.