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Cultural adaptation to an ageing society by prof. Simon Biggs – 19 December 2012

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Contents
There will be larger numbers of older adults and fewer younger ones as the 21st century progresses. This is keeping policy makers up at night. But what sort of life-course do we want for older adults, for ourselves and other generations as we age? This lecture examines a number of alternative models for exploring what is happening to the adult life-course as a consequence of the combined effect of increased longevity and changing demography. Each of which has different implications for public policy. We are facing a situation that is historically unprecedented, for which the challenge is cultural as well as demographic.
 

Background Simon Biggs
Simon Biggs is Professor of Gerontology & Social Policy at Melbourne University, Australia. He has participated in several government briefings on dignity in later life and population ageing. Recent research has included: age friendly cities, uses of adaptive technology in later life, elder abuse and neglect and intergenerational relations. In 2011 he published his latest book ‘Generational Intelligence’.

Programme
16.00 – Welcome with coffee/tea
16.20 – Introduction: Dr. Jolanda Lindenberg, Leyden Academy
16.30 – Lecture:Prof. Simon Biggs, Melbourne University Australia
17.30 – Discussion

Location
Leyden Academy
Poortgebouw Leiden
South Entrance
Room 0.15
Please click here for the directions

Registration
Send an e-mail by 17 December to register for this free public lecture:info@leydenacademy.nl.

Leyden Academy has a new ‘face’

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The Leidse amateur photographers association (LAFV) celebrates its 90th anniversary. To celebrate this, all Leiden residents born in 1922 were asked to have their pictures taken. As a result, 60 special portraits were created by various amateur photographers.

Leyden Academy also celebrates an anniversary, the 4th one. Every year on our anniversary, we choose a face of a vital elderly. This year a jury – consisted of the famous Dutch photographer Patricia Steur, elderly professor prof. dr. Rudi Westendorp and communications manager of Leyden Academy Eugenie Polman – selected a portrait among the 60 portraits. As of now, the face of 90-year-old Lenie Baart will decorate the communication expressions of Leyden Academy, such as leaflets, brochures, website etc.
During her photo session mrs. Baart indicated to be insecure about her appearance. All the more special that her portrait – made by amateur photographer Henk Aschman – was selected to be the new face of Leyden Academy.

The 60 portraits are exhibited at Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, Poortgebouw, room 0.15, and is freely accessible on working days, from Monday 12 November till Friday 7 December, from 09.00-12.00 and 12.30-16.00 hours.

Masters of Vitality: Andrzej Bartke

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The neuro-endocrine regulation of vitality and lifespan

On 11 October 2012 a public lecture toke place in Leiden, organised by the VITALITY! Programme of the Medical Delta and Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing.

Content
With ageing, cellular and tissue damage accumulates, which was thought for a long time to be driven predominantly by chance. In the nineties of the last century genetically determined neuro-endocrine pathways were identified that control the rate of ageing. Professor Bartke was the first to describe their effects in mammals. His work led to major breakthroughs. Contrary to what was commonly believed, mice with reduced growth hormone, insulin and thyroid hormone levels, and increased insulin sensitivity have increased vitality and lifespan. Being in his seventies now, the research of Professor Bartke is aimed at unravelling the precise mechanisms that enhance vitality in these long living mice.

Programme
17.45 – Welcome and snack
18.15 – Lecture
19.00 – Discussion
20.00 – End of meeting

Initiator
Medical Delta is the consortium of top life sciences and medical technology partners Leiden University, Leiden University Medical Center, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Erasmus MC. By combining their strengths and knowledge of universities, companies and government, Medical Delta aims to develop and implement new medication, technologies and effective treatments for tomorrow’s health issues.
The VITALITY! Programme of Medical Delta is coordinated by Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing and develops sustainable solutions in the quest to obtain and maintain vitality (both physically and mentally) into old age. Concepts like liveable cities, employability, independent living and interconnectivity are elements of the VITALITY! Programme. The mission is to enhance the quality of life by inspiring the older generation.
Click here for more information on the VITALITY! Programme of the Medical Delta.

Click here for the presentation of professor Bartke.

VITALITY: Keep the Spirit!

Vacancy PhD student

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PhD student (OIO) (m/f)

Project: The intergenerational transmission of abuse
 
Appointment:                                      40 hours per week
Starting date:                                       as soon as possible
Educational requirements:            MA in Social Science
Maximum salary (month):            € 2,141. — (1st year) – € 2,743.– (4th year)
 


Closing date for applications:                   May 1, 2012

The position
As a PhD student at the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, you will be a part of a small scientific staff. You will become part of a multidisciplinary project that explores the intergenerational transmission of family violence. As is known, neglect and abuse is sometimes transmitted from generation to generation, but it is unclear how this transmission actually takes place and which factors play a role. Does this mainly have a genetic background, are factors in the environment involved or is it the interaction between the two? We try to answer this question in a family study that includes three generations in a multiplex, multigenerational and case-control design. You will be part of the multidisciplinary research team in this project. Your main focus will be with the older generation and on the qualitative research methods that are involved in this project, but you will also be involved in the other parts of the research project.

Your profile
You hold a MA in Social Science. You are well-acquainted with qualitative research methods and interview methods. Besides, you have interest in dealing with other research methods such as questionnaires and observational techniques. You are able to work independently and in a team and you possess excellent communication skills, including fluently written and spoken Dutch and English. You are able to take initiative, you are enthusiastic and inquisitive and you have the creative skills to find solutions, though with a critical eye for your work.
A flexible work approach and ability to cope with stress is essential and you will be expected to present and publish your findings.  We may expect you to assist in organizing an international conference on the project topic.

We offer
You will be employed on a 40-hour week basis. The appointment is for 4 years. After 1 year the employment relationship will be appraised and either of the parties may then indicate whether the relationship is to be continued, with stating the reason(s).
The terms of employment offered by the Leyden Academy are highly favorable. For example, you will receive a 8% holiday remuneration, a year-end bonus and an individual pension arrangement.

More information
If you have any questions, or if you want more information on this position, please contact mrs. dr. J. Lindenberg, e-mail: lindenberg@leydenacademy.nl.

Application
If you are interested in this job and you meet the requirements stated in this job profile, we encourage you to apply. You can do so by letter or by e-mail. After selection, a minimum of two interviews will be conducted via Video Conferencing or at the Leyden Academy, the Netherlands (depending on your present residency).

Applying
– Send an e-mail, stating your reasons for applying (letter of motivation) to vlek@leydenacademy.nl. Include your CV and your MA thesis (or other written work).
– Send a letter, stating your reasons for applying and including your CV and MA thesis (or other written work), to Leyden Academy, f.a.o. mrs. B.B. Vlek-Schmale, Rijnsburgerweg 1o, 2333 AA LEIDEN, the Netherlands.
 

Public Lecture Ruth Mace

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Ruth Mace is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University College London. She studies the evolution of life history, culture, language, and the origins of kinship and social systems. In China she studies the evolutionary ecology of matriliny, in India the evolutionary ecology of pro-social norms and family structure, and in the UK the parental investment and child development.

Contents lecture
In her lecture Professor Ruth Mace will discuss some of her work on matriliny in China. From an evolutionary perspective, matriliny presents a puzzle because men in matrilineal societies transmit wealth to their sisters’ sons, to whom they are only half as related as to their own sons. It has been argued that such systems would only maximise fitness under unrealistically high levels of paternity uncertainty. In her lecture Ruth Mace will discuss some of these issues and argues that matriliny can arise from daughter biased investment by parents and/or grandparents.

Registration
Send an e-mail by 2 October to register for this free public lecture:
info@leydenacademy.nl.

Article students Master programme published

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Last year students Steffy Jansen and Benham Sabayan have succesfully completed their final mission for the Master Vitality and Ageing: their article that developed from their assignment ‘systematic review’ is published in Ageing Research Reviews (IF 9) at www.sciencedirect.com. In this assignment, students apply their knowledge and understanding of gerontology and geriatrics by writing ‘a systematic review article’ based on relevant scientific literature. It concerns an excercise in writing according to the IMRAD-style, in searching and analysing relevant literature in a systematic way and interpreting and comparing the results in a comprehensive manner. Steffy and Benham managed very well and even did a formal meta-analysis. You can download their article here.

Six million for thyroid research

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Professor Rudi Westendorp from Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing and professor Jacobijn Gussekloo from the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) met with medical experts from around Europe at the University of Glasgow for the inaugural meeting of a new research project investigating current treatment practices for people who suffer from a mildly underactive thyroid gland. The study is entitled Thyroid Hormone Replacement for Subclinical Hypo-Thyroidism Trial (TRUST), and is funded by a €6 Million grant from the EU’s FP7 programme.

 
TRUST researchers will follow 3,000 older subjects over a five year period in an attempt to better understand how to treat people who suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism. Half of the subjects will be treated with a hormone replacement drug, thyroxine, while the other half will be given a placebo; both groups will then be monitored to evaluate how they respond to the treatments.
 
The thyroid gland is located in the neck and controls how quickly the body uses energy and produces proteins; it also controls how sensitive the body is to various hormones. A mildly underactive thyroid, a condition also known as subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) affects around one in six people over the age of 65 and has been linked to various health problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, in later life.
 
The project will mean academics from the LUMC and the Leyden Academy will collaborate with experts in ageing, thyroid problems and vascular disease from around Europe, including researchers from the Leiden University Medical Centre and Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, Netherlands; University of Cork, Ireland and University of Berne, Switzerland. 

Here you’ll find an article about it in the Evening Echo and one in the Irish Times.

A new year and a new face

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On 11 november 2011 we celebrate the third birthday of the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing. The past year has been very intensive and successful. Not only the Executive Programme, which attracted more participants than there were openings, but also the Master Programme, Young Excellence Class, Agening Process course and Summer Course offered an interesting and varied programme, and were well received. The public lectures on elder abuse and longevity attracted a lot of interest, from participants as well as the media.

Portrait
Each year we select a portrait the represents the Leyden Academy, its mission and goals. This year we have the pleasure introducing you to Willem Antheunissen, a vital man of 81 years old. Willem lives with his wife in Leiderdorp. Willem is a distinguished, warm and humorous man with a lot of interests, such as gardening, driving his car and travelling. Since four years, his skiing trips belong to the past, but he stays in shape by exercising in the gym. His four granddaughters also keep him young.

Lecture of the Leyden Academy in the media

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The public lecture about life expectancy which was organised by the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing on October 11, 2011 has raised quite some attention in the media.
Prof. dr. Rudi Westendorp highlighted in which way demographic and medical-technological changes have led to the increasing life expectancy. Demographic data show that children who are born right now will become a 100 years old on average.
Based on his expertise in biomedical technology, dr. Aubrey de Grey expanded on his revolutionary opinion. By addressing the underlying mechanisms of ageing, such as changes in mitochondrial mutations, the nuclear DNA, accumulation of damaged molecules, cell loss and cellular senescence, we will be able to extend our lifespan drastically. Even more, de Grey holds the opinion that the first human being that will reach the age of a 1000 years is already among us.
The lecture drew the attention of around two hundred interested and was reviewed elaborately in the media. Below, some links to the coverage:

– De Volkskrant
– Nu.nl
– Tv-fragment with Prof. dr. Rudi Westendorp and Aubrey de Grey at De Wereld Draait Door
– Radio-fragment with Prof. dr. Rudi Westendorp at Evers staat op, radio 538
– David van Bodegom at Tijd voor Max, omroep Max
– Report of the evening by Elmar Veerman on Wetenschap24

The PowerPoint presentations of prof. dr. Rudi Westendorp can be downloaded here.

Master students in action

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The master Vitality and Ageing started mid september with an introduction period. It was a great occasion for the international students to get to know each other. They got a training about their personalities, had some teambuilding games and did of course also a typical Dutch activity: cheese making. Right now it’s back to business, the lectures have already been started. We wish them a very stimulating and interesting year.