Searching For Supercentenarians
The Post-Gazette profiles the activities of the Gerontology Research Group: "GRG's 40 volunteers - a loose, international network of demographers, gerontologists, epidemiologists and self-styled 'hobbyists' - are dedicated to verifying the ages of the world's oldest people, and to learning the secrets of their longevity. But to do so, they must contend with dishonest schemers, governments that gleefully support false claims and what researchers call 'the invisible barrier of 115.' Because almost no one who reaches age 114 ever sees 115, the group is skeptical of any claims to ages higher than that. ... Dr. Coles believes that if doctors find answers about superlongevity, the pharmaceutical industry will develop drugs to help the oldest of us survive longer."