For Immediate Release: December 5, 2006

Contact: Jean Campbell (217) 544-6464, ext. 44307

World-renowned expert shares secrets of longevity

SPRINGFIELD – People who live to 100 prove that “the older you are, the healthier you’ve
been,” said aging expert Thomas Perls, MD, the guest speaker a special community
event at St. John’s Hospital on Monday, December 4. The event was held to
promote the opening of “Generations,” St. John’s new geriatric mental health program.

Dr. Perls is a researcher in the study of aging at Boston University Medical School
and a geriatrician who cares for older patients at Boston Medical Center. For
the past 10 years, he has directed the New England Centenarian Study (NECS),
the largest genetic and social study of centenarians and their families in the world.
He also is the author of the book Living to 100, Lessons in Maximizing Your
Potential at any Age, which presents findings from the NECS.

Dr. Perls says he founded the study after discovering that his
centenarian patients were among his healthiest. “Many are under the
impression that people inevitably decline into worsening health and senility
when they reach their 80s, 90s and beyond,” said Dr. Perls. “In reality,
centenarians do very well for the vast majority of their very long lives.
They have somehow managed to weather the stresses of life and avoid major diseases.”

According to Dr. Perls and his team, centenarians have a history of aging very slowly
and have either delayed or entirely escaped diseases normally associated with
aging such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke and heart disease. He and
his colleagues recently discovered a key genetic region that plays a critical role
in enabling centenarians to age well and live a long time. The team’s work may
translate into development of age-slowing and disease-retarding drugs.

Although genetics is a key factor in living to 100, Dr. Perls said other ways to
help lengthen your lifespan include being active both mentally and physically,
eating a healthy diet, maintaining an ideal weight, reducing stress and avoiding
tobacco products and anti-aging nostrums such as growth hormone.

The event was presented by St. John’s geriatric services: Generations geriatric
mental health program, Third Age Living, Transitional Care Unit, Center for Living
and Adult Day Services.