Breaux Holds Hearing On Healthy Aging and Nutrition
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Released: Tuesday, August 13, 2002FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Mulhauser, Ryan McGinn
August 13, 2002 (202) 224-5364
WASHINGTON (Aug. 12)Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), chairman
of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, announced today
he will hold a hearing at the Pennington Biomedical Research
Center in Baton Rouge on Aug.15 to explore current scientific
research in the areas of healthy aging, nutrition and longevity.
The Pennington Center was recently awarded
a seven-year, $12.4 million grant from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) to study the possible anti-aging benefits
of a long-term calorie reduction. The largest single NIH research
grant in the Pennington Center's 14-year history, the
study will look at whether a two-year calorie deficit reduces
the risks of age-related chronic illnesses, such as heart
disease, hypertension
and type 2 diabetes.
Caloric restriction has been studied as a diet
form for nearly 70 years. This diet was first shown to increase
the life span of rats in the 1930's and was later shown to
have a similar effect in other organisms. Today, scientists
at NIH are studying the effects of caloric restriction on
the life span of monkeys animals that share 90 percent
of their genetic make-up with humans. Witnesses will discuss
the need for further research into caloric restriction to
determine its efficacy and safety in helping humans live longer,
more productive lives.
Witnesses expected to testify include:
Pamela Starke-Reed, Ph.D., National Institutes
of Health;
Robert N. Butler, M.D., International Longevity Center-USA;
Claude Bouchard, Ph.D., Pennington Biomedical Research
Center;
William H. Patrick, Jr., Ph.D., Baton Rouge, La.
Dr. Patrick is a 76-year-old professor who will discuss how good nutrition and physical fitness have had a positive impact on his life as he has grown older. He is currently the #2 ranked tennis player in his age group in Louisiana and was a member of the silver medal winning basketball team at the Senior Games held in Baton Rouge last year.
The hearing will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday,
Aug. 15 at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400
Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, La. The Pennington Center can be
reached at (225) 763-2500.
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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. It is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes approximately 80 faculty and more than 25 post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and support personnel, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical's more than 500 employees perform research activities in state-of-the-art facilities on the 222-acre campus located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
