GSA announces a series of press briefings on the latest developments in the field of aging

To keep reporters up to date with the latest developments on the age beat, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is proud to host a series of press briefings and a journalists' networking reception at its upcoming Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta, GA. The program schedule additionally offers over 400 other scientific sessions featuring research presented for the first time.

The meeting - the country's largest interdisciplinary conference in the field of aging - will take place from November 18 to 22 at the Hilton Atlanta and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The briefing schedule is listed below. (Call-in information will be announced prior to the start of the meeting.)

Health Reform Gaps for Ethnic Elders

Without more serious attention to multicultural seniors, ethnic older Americans will and their families will increasingly endure a burden of disease and disability, while the U.S. will face billions in unnecessary health costs and billions more in lost productivity gains. The briefing's speakers will examine how new findings presented at the conference point to America's need to recast the debate from the costs of health care to comprehensive continuity of care that will maximize the wellness and productive capacity of older adults and their families. Participants: Paul Kleyman (moderator), New America Media; Toni Miles, MD, PhD, University of Louisville; Carmen Green, MD, University of Michigan; and Sara Espinoza, MD, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

The Release of a Landmark Report, "Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50󈞬: Community and Clinical Partnerships"

The purpose of this event is to announce the release of "Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50󈞬: Community and Clinical Partnerships," a new report developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AARP, and the American Medical Association (AMA). The speakers will address the importance and challenges of ensuring individuals aged 50 to 64 receive preventive services. Furthermore, they will discuss how the report can be used to promote access to and use of preventive services where people work and live. The briefing will also explore opportunities to enhance linkages between community and clinical practices to further the delivery of preventive services. Participants: Leandris Liburd, PhD, MPH (moderator), CDC; William Hall, MD, AARP; Matthew McKenna, MD, CDC; and Edward Langston, MD, AMA.

Increasing Health Span with Calorie Restriction

Calorie restriction has been shown to increase health and longevity in a variety of animal species including, most recently, primates. GSA's meeting will host a concurrent conference of the CR Society, a membership organization of individuals practicing calorie restriction. During the briefing, this group's invited scientists will discuss the latest basic and clinical research pertinent to calorie restriction. Presenters: Robert Krikorian, PhD (moderator), University of Cincinatti; James Nelson, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; Richard Miller, MD, PhD, University of Michigan; Holly Brown-Borg, PhD, University of North Dakota; and Donald Ingram, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center.