HEALTHY AGING/HEALTHY LIVING

Remarkable advances in modern medicine have allowed us to live to unprecedented age: average human life expectancy has increased from 45 years at the beginning of the 20th century to greater than 75 years in the 21st century. The aging population across the world is growing exponentially. Understanding the process of healthy aging, and the role of exercise and activity in senescence, is topic of this research program which covers approaches from human in vivo up to the genetic level.

Living longer, however, does not necessarily mean living better. The metabolic syndrome, the infirmity of the 21st century, is one of the major focuses of this research program. Risk factors contributing to the metabolic syndrome such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin sensitivity are studied separately as well as combined in the multi risk factor patients. The overall goal is to improve "health" or vitality of individuals as they age.

Theme leader: Prof. Dr. Maria Hopman and Prof. Dr. Cees Tack

Participants : Dr. J. van Alfen, Dr. G. Bosman,  Dr. C. de Korte, Prof. Dr. T. Lagro, Dr. C. Noordam, Prof. Dr. M. OldeRikkert, Dr. D. Thijssen, Prof. Dr. A. Stalenhoef

Postdoctoal fellows: Dr. Rinke Stienstra, Dr. Evertine Abbink, Dr. L. van Tits, Dr. Bastiaan de Galan, Dr. Gerald Vervoort, Dr. Patricia de Groot, Dr. Dick Thijssen, Dr. Gerwen Lammers

PhD Students: Drs. Alexandra Mulder, Drs. Edwin van Asseldonk, Drs. Henri Jansen, Drs. Alexander Rennings, Drs. Inge Hommel, Drs. Suzanne Holewijn, Drs. Arjen Hoogendam, Drs. C. Popa

Technicians: Heidi Lemmers, A. Hijmans, Helga Toenhake, Karin Saini, Bregina Kersten