Health & Fitness
Greenspring Residents and Staff Learn About the Secrets of Healthy Aging
Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD, Scientific Director for the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, presented information on the IDEAL study to over 200 at Greenspring.
On Thursday, January 24, Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD, Scientific Director for the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), presented the latest innovative research on the aging process and the IDEAL study (Insight into Determinants of Exceptional Aging and Longevity) to over 200 residents and staff at Greenspring. According to the NIH website, Dr. Ferrucci is “a geriatrician and an epidemiologist who conducts research on the causal pathways leading to progressive physical and cognitive decline in older persons”.
“The dream is to live a very long life and be very healthy at the end of life,” said Dr. Ferrucci. During his presentation, he discussed some of the measures used in the study of aging including walking speed, cognitive and physicial frailty, muscle composition, and energy efficiency. “Aging is hiding in our body,” said Dr. Ferrucci.
The IDEAL study is looking for “exceptional agers” that are at least 80 years old, healthy, and have no physical or cognitive limitations. To learn more about the study including how to participate, visit www.nia.nih.gov/ideal.
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Greenspring first partnered with the NIA in 2011 when the community hosted a Go4Life event that included aerobics, Zumba, yoga, and an interactive Tai Chi demonstration. Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign from the NIA at NIH designed to motivate older adults to fit exercise and physical activity into their daily lives.
About Greenspring: Greenspring is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia. The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of which reside in the 1404 independent living apartment-style homes. At Greenspring, over 200 resident-run and resident-driven programs promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average. Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.