First-born daughters are three times more likely to survive to age 100 than their latter-born sisters; and first-born sons are twice as likely to become centenarians as those sons born fourth, fifth, or sixth in the family, according to a new study prepared for the Society of Actuaries (SOA). The study, which looked at family data for nearly 1,000 centenarians, shows that birth order, place of birth, and even birth month may be linked to longevity.

It’s that time again, the annual struggle over funding for the National Institutes of Health. The latest negotiations between the House and Senate yielded a proposal for an NIH budget increase of one-half of one percent for fiscal year 2006, the smallest increase since the 1970s. But, just before the Thanksgiving recess, the House rejected the bill. The following day, the Senate voted to send the bill back to a conference committee to reach an acceptable compromise.

At the Alliance for Aging Research, we are committed to a vision of healthy longevity for millions of Americans, made possible through advances in science and technology. We focus on research and initiatives that show promise for realization 10, 20, even 50 years from now.