Determinants of successful ageing and longevity: holistic anthropological research of long-lived residents of nursing homes in Zagreb, Croatia

Author: Tatjana Škarić-Jurić, Spomenka Tomek-Roksandić, Branko Kolarić, Tanja Ćorić, Hrvojka Marija Zeljko, Jasminka Despot Lučanin, Šime Smolić, Ana Perinić Lewis, Nina Smolej Narančić, Ivica Rubelj, Luka Bočkor, Maja Šetinc, Željka Celinšćak

Abstract:

Persons of very old age are prime examples of successful ageing. Therefore, the extensive survey of 345 oldest-old persons (85+ yrs.) has been conducted between 2007 and 2009 in retirement homes in Zagreb, where a wide spectrum of data (interviews, biometry) and blood samples (for genetic, biochemical and hematological analyses) was collected. The period of 10 years that elapsed offered a first-class possibility to detect two key outcomes: the examinees' age at death (and selection of exceptionally long-lived subsample) and the duration of their functional ability. The project HECUBA aims to investigate the impact of biological and health-related features comprehensively, along with different socioeconomic and psychological traits, life history and cultural factors (attitudes, behavior, habits) on the aging process dynamics. It is expected that this project will contribute to the current ageing theories and bring results relevant to the gerontological and geriatric practice in the Republic of Croatia.

Key words:
gene-environment interaction; healthy aging; interdisciplinary research; longevity; oldest-old; socioeconomic factors