The Longevity Genes Project (LGP), established in 1998 at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, recruits Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians (age 95 and older) who are in general good health at age 95, offspring of centenarians, and spouses of offspring in the Eastern United States. The goal of this cross-sectional study is to identify longevity genes that help to slow the aging process and/or protect from age-related diseases. Participants undergo a physical examination (including physical measurements and mini mental state examination (MMSE)), complete a series of questionnaires (including medical and family history, physical activity, etc.), as well as a blood draw or cheek swab collection for DNA analysis. Participants selected for this sub-study were living in the community and were either (1) age ³70, carriers of APOe4/e4 genotype, and exhibited normal cognitive function or (2) were age ³80, carriers of APOe3/e4 genotype, and exhibited normal cognitive function. For individuals age 95 and older, normal cognitive function was defined as full MMSE score >22 or blind MMSE score ³16. Fo individuals age <95, normal cognition was defined as MMSE >25.

Funding:

Grants from the National Institutes of Health R01AG042188, R01AG044829, R01AG046949, R01AG057909, R01AG061155, P30AG038072, the Einstein-Paul Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Center for the Biology of Human Aging.