When you meet Jim Piscitelli, you may be surprised to learn that
he is pushing 100 years old.
He can move about his house without much difficulty, looks to be
in fine physical health, and has a memory as clear as day.
On the phone or in the supermarket, Piscitelli has frequently
been told that he looks and sounds much younger than he is.
“I get that constantly,” said the 97-year-old. “I don’t know
what to attribute it to.”
That attribution is the subject of The Long Life Family Study,
an international research project sponsored by the National
Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Families
from the U.S. and Denmark who have several members reaching very
old ages are being studied to find out why some people live until a
very old age and why some families maintain their health far longer
than the average family. Researchers seek to improve the health of
future generations, and help older people maintain their health and
well-being in the future.
The five-year, ,18 million study is a collaboration between,
Columbia University of New York, N.Y., University of Pittsburgh,
Boston (Mass.) University Medical Center, University of Southern
Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and the Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
Increasing evidence shows that exceptional longevity and
exceptional survival traits are clustered in families. Siblings of
the exceptionally old have an increased chance of surviving much
longer than the average population, according to the University of
Pittsburgh Epidemiology Department. There is also evidence that
genetics may be responsible for some of the familial clustering of
exceptional longevity. Researchers are analyzing the vitals, life
habits and DNA, among other factors to determine why the
Piscitellis and other families have lived so long, said Nancy W.
Glynn, Ph.D., research assistant professor of Epidemiology at the
university.
The Piscitelli family became involved with the study after
Piscitelli’s daughter, Barbara, saw an article in an Australian
publication about longevity problems and a new study on families
who are aging well. Barbara Piscitelli, 59, who lives in Australia,
contacted the National Institute on the Aging to see how her
family could become involved in the study.
A team from the University of Pittsburgh came to Jim
Piscitelli’s home Nov. 14, 2006, for a three-hour examination which
included filling out a series of questionnaires and some
performance and physical assessments. A blood sample was taken to
obtain information about genetics. The research team is also
looking at close to 40 of Piscitelli’s relatives. Seven of 10 of
his siblings are still alive with ages ranging from 80 to 96. The
team came to the home of Piscitelli’s niece, Anne Herzing of St.
Marys, July 22.
The university hopes to obtain information from about 250
families over three years. It is already one-third of the way
there, Glynn said. To qualify, a family must have two living
siblings around 90 or older, and at least one offspring of a
sibling participate in the study. Additional family members can
also be a part of the study. Younger generations are studied to
determine the importance of genetics in longevity.
“We’d love to find a million Piscitelli families,” Glynn said.
“The Piscitellis were a big family and we very much enjoyed seeing
them.”
The University of Pittsburgh was chosen to participate in the
project through a competitive process, Glynn said. The university
had to submit an application that included a position paper on how
they would approach the study. All the universities chosen focus on
different areas of Epidemiology and bring different strengths to
the table, Glynn said.
Researchers are seeking more families to participate in the
study, Glynn said. There is no cost to participating in the study
and those who do will be compensated ,25 for their time and
participation upon completion of the in-person visit. People will
get blood test results including total cholesterol,
HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, blood glucose, trigylcerides, and
kidney function levels. They will also get blood pressure results,
height, weight, grip strength, and lung function test results.
People will also be notified if test results for hemoglobin levels,
white blood cell count or platelet count are extremely
abnormal.
Jim Piscitelli said keeping active may be what has kept him in
good health for so long. He has held various positions, from a
pattern maker for Hanley Brick Co. to foreman in Dresser
Manufacturing’s quality control department. He umpired minor league
baseball games and refereed high school football games for years
and continues to be involved in organizations such as the Exchange
Club of America, Area Transport Authority and the Knights of
Columbus.
“I’ve been active all my life,” he said. “I’ve kept myself in
good shape all these years.”
His advice for a long life?
“You have to be nice to people, that’s number one,” Piscitelli
said. “Keep busy. Help the poor. Don’t sit around, keep yourself
occupied with something.”
