American Aging Association
Encyclopedia
The American Aging Association is a non-profit, tax-exempt biogerontology
organization
of scientists and laypeople dedicated to biomedical aging
studies intended to slow the aging process
. The abbreviation
AGE is intended to be representative of the organization, even though it is not an acronym (avoids possible confusion with the American Automobile Association
, AAA).
Mark A. Smith
was the 2010-2011 Executive Director and Treasurer until he was killed in a car accident, December 19, 2010.
, MD,PhD, who is often known as the "father" of the "Free-Radical Theory of Aging
". Dr. Harman's goal was to form a lay-scientific organization patterned after the American Heart Association
to promote biomedical aging research. Dr. Harman served as the first president of AGE, and was Executive Director of AGE for 20 years (1973 to 1993).
Much of the early financial support for the American Aging Association (AGE) came from Durk Pearson
and Sandy Shaw
, who are known for their 1982 best-selling book Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach
(ISBN 0-446-38735-5).
AGE has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health
and the Ellison Medical Foundation
.
The Vice-Presidency of AGE is to be a layperson position focused on promoting the scientific goals of AGE to the general public.
The journal
of AGE is called AGE, and is published quarterly.
The 37th annual conference of AGE was held May 30–June 2, 2008 in Boulder, Colorado
.
The 38th annual conference of AGE was held May 29–June 1, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona
.
The 39th annual conference of AGE was held June 4–June 7, 2010 in Portland, Oregon
.
The 40th annual conference of AGE was held on June 3–June 6, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina
.
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
of scientists and laypeople dedicated to biomedical aging
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
studies intended to slow the aging process
Senescence
Senescence or biological aging is the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity. Such changes range from those affecting its cells and their function to those affecting the whole organism...
. The abbreviation
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
AGE is intended to be representative of the organization, even though it is not an acronym (avoids possible confusion with the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
, AAA).
Mark A. Smith
Mark A. Smith
Mark Anthony Smith was a professor of pathology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also served as the Director of Basic Science Research at the University Memory and Aging Center....
was the 2010-2011 Executive Director and Treasurer until he was killed in a car accident, December 19, 2010.
History and organization
AGE was founded in 1970 by Denham HarmanDenham Harman
Denham Harman , MD, PhD, FACP, FAAA biogerontologist is Professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Harman is widely known as the "father of the free radical theory of aging".-Background:...
, MD,PhD, who is often known as the "father" of the "Free-Radical Theory of Aging
Free-radical theory
The free-radical theory of aging states that organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time. A free radical is any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell. While a few free radicals such as melanin are not chemically reactive, most...
". Dr. Harman's goal was to form a lay-scientific organization patterned after the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
to promote biomedical aging research. Dr. Harman served as the first president of AGE, and was Executive Director of AGE for 20 years (1973 to 1993).
Much of the early financial support for the American Aging Association (AGE) came from Durk Pearson
Durk Pearson
Durk Pearson, born in 1943 in Illinois, is best known for coauthoring a series of books on longevity, beginning with Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach.- Early life :...
and Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is an American writer on health. She is an advocate of life extension.-Education:Shaw's father was an engineer and her mother a housewife. She received her degree in chemistry from U.C.L.A...
, who are known for their 1982 best-selling book Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach
Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach
Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach was a 1982 book by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw that popularized the life extension and smart drug movements....
(ISBN 0-446-38735-5).
AGE has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
and the Ellison Medical Foundation
Ellison Medical Foundation
The Ellison Medical Foundation, a 501 Private Nonoperating Foundation, was founded in 1997 and is located in Walnut Creek, California. The foundation supports research in the following discipline areas: biomedical research on aging, age-related diseases and disabilities. Its major philanthropic...
.
The Vice-Presidency of AGE is to be a layperson position focused on promoting the scientific goals of AGE to the general public.
Activities
The primary activities of AGE are to- hold annual scientific conferences (every June)
- give awards to researchers making significant contributions to the goals of AGE
- promote interest among young scientists in the goals of AGE
- publish newsletters and journals
The journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
of AGE is called AGE, and is published quarterly.
The 37th annual conference of AGE was held May 30–June 2, 2008 in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
.
The 38th annual conference of AGE was held May 29–June 1, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
.
The 39th annual conference of AGE was held June 4–June 7, 2010 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
The 40th annual conference of AGE was held on June 3–June 6, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.