About UsMission Statement
HistoryThe American Aging Association was launched at a special luncheon meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, October 19, 1970 and organized by a group of distinguished medical doctors and scientists who wanted a specific organization dedicated to aging research. Patterned after the American Heart Association, the Association is defined as a non-profit, tax-exempt national organization of lay and scientific members dedicated to:
The driving force behind the formation of the Association was Denham Harman, MD, PhD, a professor at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. Dr. Harman was one of the few researchers at that time to show positive results in the drive to conquer aging. He is best known for his work with BHT, a common nutritional substance that he has used to buffer free radical reactions that may be involved in the aging process. Dr. Harman incorporated AGE in Omaha, Nebraska and served as its first president. Joining Dr. Harman in forming the organization are Morris Rockstein, PhD, professor of Physiology and Radiology at the University of Miami, Harold Brody, PhD, MD, professor of Anatomy, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, and Joseph T. Freeman, MD, Consultant in Geriatrics, U.S. Veterans Administrative Hospital in Coatesville, PA Dr. Harman and the organizers served on the first Board of Directors. Dr. Harman also served as Executive Director from 1973 to 1993. Substantial funding had been provided in the early years by industrial sources as a result of the wide popularity of a book that promoted the free radical theory of aging by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, long-time members. Several state chapters were affiliated with the Association in the early years to draw attention to the public for the necessity for support of programs to eliminate aging. The formation of the Association also led to the development of affiliated groups, the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology in 1985 and the American College of Clinical Gerontology in 1986. The Vice President of the Association was designated as a layperson position to emphasize the intention to reach out from the scientific community to laypersons interested in the development of late-onset interventions in degenerative disease from a basic research perspective. In 2016 AGE became a member of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Each year, the Association provides an annual conference to share aging research and to recognize and award young investigators with disciplines in aging research. In the early years, the meeting rotated between New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Currently, the conference locations are selected throughout the United States and are held in the first week of June. Establishment of AwardsDistinguished Achievement Denham Harman Research Award Walter R. Nicolai Award Paul F. Glenn Award Clinical Research Award Journalism Award Leonard Hayflick Award
The Hayflick award is to give new researchers and graduate students a "map" of where the field should go, why, and how to get there, all from the point of view of someone with sufficient perspective and intelligence to offer such advice. Research Fund GeroScience: The Journal of the American Aging AssociationFirst published in 1970 and in 1978; the AGE scientific journal was then published. The purpose of the journal is to further the objectives of the American Aging Association by providing rapid publication of papers pertinent to biomedical aging research. Dr. Harman served as Editor-in-Chief until 1992. Dr. Arthur Balin was then elected Editor-in-Chief and served until January 2003. The current Editor-in-Chiefs are Dr. Zoltan Ungvari and Dr. Veronica Galvan. The journal is available in print and online. Learn More>> |