Tom Perls

{{short description|Founding director of the New England Centenarian Study}}

{{short description|Founding director of the New England Centenarian Study}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

'''Thomas Perls''' (born 1960) is the founding director of the [[New England Centenarian Study]], the longest-running largest study of [[centenarian]]s and their family members in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.bumc.bu.edu/centenarian|title=The new England Centenarian Study|year=2002|publisher=Boston University|accessdate=1 July 2013}} The Study is worldwide in scope but most of the participants come from the United States and Canada and is funded by three [[National Institute on Aging]] grants: The Integrative Longevity Omics Study, Centenarian Project of the Longevity Consortium and the Long Life Family Study. The study is also funded, with great appreciation, by the William M. Wood Foundation and the Paulette and Marty Samowitz Foundation. Born in [[Palo Alto]], [[California]], Perls later moved to [[Colorado]] and now lives in Boston. He received his B.A. from [[Pitzer College]] in 1982, his M.D. from the [[University of Rochester Medical Center|University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry]] in 1986, and his M.P.H. from [[Harvard University]] in 1993.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/jobenvy/08/27/thomas.perls.focus/index.html|title=Thomas Perls: Longevity researcher |last=Anderson |first=Porter |publisher=Cable News Network |accessdate=15 June 2015 | date=27 August 2001}} Perls is Professor of medicine at [[Boston University School of Medicine]] and [[attending physician]] in geriatrics at [[Boston Medical Center]]. He is the author of over 160 peer-reviewed articles primarily in biodemography and genetics of exceptional human longevity and anti-aging quackery.

'''Thomas Perls''' (born 1960) is the founding director of the [[New England Centenarian Study]], the longest-running largest study of [[centenarian]]s and their family members in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.bumc.bu.edu/centenarian|title=The new England Centenarian Study|year=2002|publisher=Boston University|accessdate=1 July 2013}} The Study is worldwide in scope but most of the participants come from the United States and Canada and is funded by three [[National Institute on Aging]] grants: The Integrative Longevity Omics Study, Centenarian Project of the Longevity Consortium and the Long Life Family Study. The study is also funded, with great appreciation, by the William M. Wood Foundation and the Paulette and Marty Samowitz Foundation. Born in [[Palo Alto]], [[California]], Perls later moved to [[Colorado]] and now lives in Boston. He received his B.A. from [[Pitzer College]] in 1982, his M.D. from the [[University of Rochester Medical Center|University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry]] in 1986, and his M.P.H. from [[Harvard University]] in 1993.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/jobenvy/08/27/thomas.perls.focus/index.html|title=Thomas Perls: Longevity researcher |last=Anderson |first=Porter |publisher=Cable News Network |accessdate=15 June 2015 | date=27 August 2001}} Perls is Professor of medicine at [[Boston University School of Medicine]] and [[attending physician]] in geriatrics at [[Boston Medical Center]]. He is the author of over 160 peer-reviewed articles primarily in biodemography and genetics of exceptional human longevity and anti-aging quackery.

Generally, the study has found that centenarians and their children (in their 70s thru 90s) age relatively slowly and have decreased risk for aging-related diseases including Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and restrictive lung disease. Our studies are using different but synergistic approaches to discover the biological and environmental exposure and behavioral mechanisms by which these individuals age so well and live so long.

Generally, the study has found that centenarians and their children (in their 70s thru 90s) age relatively slowly and have decreased risk for aging-related diseases including Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and restrictive lung disease. Our studies are using different but synergistic approaches to discover the biological and environmental exposure and behavioral mechanisms by which these individuals age so well and live so long.

[[Category:University of Rochester alumni]]

[[Category:University of Rochester alumni]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

{{US-academic-scientist-stub}}

{{US-med-bio-stub}}