ILC-France Activity Report 2012 1. Organization of ILC-France CEO : Pr Françoise FORETTE Scientific Director : Dr Marie-Anne BRIEU Administrative and Finance Director : Dr Jean-Claude SALORD Project managers : Mrs Jacqueline GAUSSENS – Isabelle BESSON Administrative assistant : Marie-Claude MARTEL - Research Collaborators :
- Pr Claude Le Pen, Bernard Cottet, Dr. Laurent Goldstein, Carole Dufouil, Dr. Brigitte Heuls,
Members of ILC France's board : President : Jean-Pierre WIEDMER Vice-president : Pierre JOLY General Secretary : Bernard FORETTE Treasurer : Jean-François HENRY 2. Achievements of ILC-France in 2012 ILC France pursues its main objectives: - Research on Longevity issues with 2 pillars : health prevention and sustained activity, both as a long life perspective. - Communication to Influence decision makers in favor of the aging population with an emphasis on the two pillars above 2.1 Research 2.1.1 « Healthy Companies Study– (EBS « Entreprises en Bonne Santé »)
This research program is completed. It was designed to assess the impact of a prevention program
based on healthy lifestyle - nutrition, physical activity - and prevention of back pain. The study was
conducted among 978 employees of three companies (PREVOIR, LILLY and HSBC Insurance) and
funded by these companies during the working time of employees. The final report was issued in the
The results show an improvement of the level of knowledge particularly concerning the relationship
between nutrition and diseases. The impact of the program is important on health behaviour,
especially on back pain and behavioural changes.
Finally, this program is considered an important tool in human resource management. It allows a large
majority of employees to perceive the company as being involved in the welfare of its employees. A
2.1.2 ORLANDO Study “Is older age retirement related to delayed clinical dementia onset? “ Abstract below accepted at AAIC, boston July 2013 Older Age at retirement is associated with decreased risk of dementia. Analysis of a healthcare insurance database of self-employed workers Background
Intellectual stimulation and mental engagement throughout life might be protective against dementia.
We investigated whether age at retirement influences dementia risk among self-employed workers in
We linked health and pension databases including self-employed workers who were living and retired
as of December 31st 2010. Dementia cases were defined based either on ICD-10th diagnosis or on
claim for one of the medication against dementia (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine). Data were
analysed using Cox proportional hazard model where age at dementia diagnosis or age at censoring
(31st December 2010) was the dependent variable and age of retirement was the independent
variable. Hazard ratios were computed adjusting for gender, marital status, occupational category,
type of retirement, pension amount, diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes. Sensitivity analyses to
assess potential reverse causation and differential cohort or temporal diagnosis biases were
Among the 429,803 retired self-employed workers alive on December 31st 2010, prevalence of
dementia was 2.65%. Workers had been retired on average for more than 12 years. Multivariable
analyses showed that the hazard ratio (HR) of dementia was 0.968 (95% Confidence Interval= [0.962-
0.973]) per each extra year of age at retirement. After excluding workers who had dementia diagnosed
within the 5 years following retirement, the results remained unchanged and highly significant
(p<0.0001). Results were also similar in further analyses stratified by age categories or year of
Conclusions
Professional activity may be an important determinant of mental exercise and social integration. Our
data show strong evidence of a significant decrease in the risk of developing dementia associated with
older age at retirement, in line with the "use it or lose it" hypothesis. This health perspective should be
taken into consideration when the age of cessation of professional activity is discussed. Our results
thus highlight the importance of maintaining high levels of cognitive and social stimulation throughout
work and retiree life and emphasize the need for interventions and policies to help older individuals
achieve such cognitive and social engagement.
2.1.3 Collaboration with ILC Japan (Shinichi Ogami) in the “International Comparative Study on Ideal Terminal Care and Death”.
French data has been collected in the palliative care services by the mean of detailed
questionnaires filled by physicians, nurses and social workers. The Japanese principal investigator
was then able to compare the French data with those collected in other countries and make
recommendations to improve support for people and their families while taking into account
the cultural and social differences. ILC France was invited by ILC Japan to present French and
European results of “End-of-life care, an international study” during The Japanese symposium held in
“International Comparative Study on Productive Ageing” in collaboration with ILC Japan. (Shinichi Ogami)
ILC France collaborated on this international study by answering the following questions on active
-Laws and individual systems of financial support after retirement?
-Laws/ systems of current conditions on the employment of older people?
-Laws / systems on a stable housing for the elderly?
-Measures to promote social participation of the elderly?
The report and its annexes were sent to ILC Japan.
2.2 Influencing decision makers 2.2.1 Parliamentary Study Group on Longevity.
MPs are the primary actors involved in the process of substantial reforms, particularly the reform of
pensions. To deal with the lack of accurate information of MPs on the "longevity revolution" in our
country, ILC France proposed to Dr. Denis Jacquat MP of Moselle and vice president of the
Commission of Cultural, Family and Social Affairs of the Parliament, to create the Study Group on
Longevity in 2006. This group is enriched by the network of ILC-France. Proceedings of each hearing
are available on demand. Since its creation, 34 hearings personalities specialized in the field of aging
There was only one hearing in 2012 pending the re-establishment of the group following his natural
dissolution after presidential and parliamentary elections: -20 November 2012 : "Avoidable hospitalizations, readmissions and care pathways: a comparison between France and the United States." Speaker: Victor G. Rodwin, Professor of Health Policy and Management Wagner /
The group has been recreated in early 2013 as the "Task Force on issues of aging» Dr. Denis Jacquat
was reappointed chair and 82 MP are participating in this parliamentary group.
Parliamentary Meeting on Longevity
There was no parliamentary meetings in 2012 because of the presidential election and the change of
ILC-France is in charge of the scientific direction. These parliamentary meetings gather a public of 200
policymakers, institution representatives and geriatricians. Complete proceedings are published and
2.2.311e Congrès francophone sur la Maladie d’Alzheimer et les syndromes apparentés. Toulouse 22 Mai 2012.
Positive preliminary results on Orlando study has been published in may 2012 during an ILC-France
symposium entitled “Alzheimer's disease and Professional Life” chaired by F. Forette.
• 1. The concept of Cognitive Reserve: Michel Poncet • 2. Comparative results of SHARE and HRS on the Role of retirement on cognitive function: Stephane
•3. Results of ORLANDO Study (" Is Older age Retirement related to delayed Clinical Dementia
Abstract : Prevention and / or delay of onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are major issues pending
pathophysiological treatments. The concept of Cognitive Reserve has been proposed to explain
epidemiological data showing that individuals engaged in intense intellectual activity had a lower risk
of developing Alzheimer's disease. The level of education and intellectual activity do not protect
against injuries of AD but delay their clinical expression. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to develop
connections of complex dendritic networks able to cope with future losses. It is the support of the
2.3 Communication, other symposia, working group, meeting in 2012
2-3-1. Participation to Nuclear meeting of EDF (Electricité de France). Radiation & Health
Chronic diseases and work - Seniors and Labour - February 8, 2012.
2-3-2. 10th Congress GEROSANTE-CIPPEG, Montpellier April 4, 2012 Theme: "Active Ageing".
2-3-3. Meeting of the Board of Directors, Held at Charles University, Prague,
Czech Republic, May 27, 2012 Chaired by Iva Holmerova (ILC Czech Republic). Successful
meeting. An ILC Global Alliance symposium was organized under the IFA - 11th Global
Conference on Ageing Prague, May 28, 2012 on the theme "Productive Ageing: Opportunities
ILC France was responsible for presenting and write an article, "Healthy and active aging,
Barriers and opportunities in UK, Japan and France" ( see Chapter 2 of the proceedings of the
2-3-4. AXA Conference, September 21, 2012 - Paris. Theme: "The well-being at work: Utopia, hope
2-3 5.Présentation-AXA, September 25, 2012, in Paris December 11, 2012, in Biarritz. Theme:
2-3-6. Participation at World Café Europe, Tuesday, October 2, 2012 in London, invited by Moira
Allan, president of the association "2 Young 2 Retire" partner for France for the project
"European Voice for active aging" EVAA.
2-3-7. Silverlife presentation at November 19, 2012-Paris.
Theme: "The elderly are a chance for France"
What to do in retirement, how best to invest in this period of life?
2-3-8. National Conference on Mutual hospitals, MNH, November 22, 2012 in Paris. Theme:
2-3-9. Conference for Mérieux and Bullukian Foundations, December 14, 2012, Paris. Theme: "The
2.4 Other activities in 2012 Radio, TV and press interviews Meetings with companies and other personalities : Mme S. GONI (Lündbeck), Mr. M. ALBRECHT
(Nutricia), Dr. B.HEULS (RSI), Mr C.LAMBERT (IPSEN), Dr A.RAYNAUD (AXA), Mr WIEDMER
(HSBC), Mr Nicolas FREMDER (Train Alzheimer), Mme D. KARNIEVITZ (CNAV), Mme G.ASCON
(Fondation des Caisses d’Epargne), Mme I.LAUDIER (CNC),Mr Y.GARCIER (Occupational Medicine
director of EDF), Mr LORENZI ( Chaire de la Transition Démographique – Université Dauphine).
Institutions Memberships : Board of the Institute of Life Sciences, Cardio-geriatrics Group of French
Society of Geriatric and Gerontology (SFGG) and the French Society of Cardiology (SFC), Scientific
Board of the MAPT Study Toulouse, Foundation for Alzheimer Scientific Cooperation, Scientific Board
of the Association Robert Debré, Scientific Board of SFGG, Board “ENVISÂGE” Novartis, Scientific
Board of EXHONIT, Board of “Equilibre et population”, Board of the IMPACT Study (Pfizer), Alzheimer
vaccine Safety Monitoring Committee AC001 EU/US/Japan (Pfizer-Wyeth), Scientific Board of SAGES
study (Sanofi Aventis), Presidency of “Col ectif Alzheimer”, National College of Professors of Geriatrics,
Board of the Foundation Leroy-Merlin, IAGG 2009 Board, Steering Committee of the Presidential
Participation in the National Foundation of Gerontology’s program "Growing is Aging". Chronos’s prize awarded at the 18th Bookfair - 2012 - Paris- Website of ILC-France: Information:, 49 rue Mirabeau 75016 PARIS, France, Tel : +33 1 55 74 67 09
Veröffentlichungen mit Beteiligung der wissenschaftlichen Arbeitsgruppen der Neurologischen Klinik mit Institut für Klinische Neurobiologie 2004 Originalarbeiten 1. Bendszus M, Wessig C, Solymosi L, Reiners K, Koltzenburg M. MRI of peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration: correlation with electrophysiology and histology. Exp Neurol 2004;188:171-177 Bischofs S, Zelenka M,
Assessment Of Sleep Dynamics In A Simulated Space Station Environment Lakshmi Putcha, Ph.D., Ram Nimmagudda, Ph.D., Chantal Rivera, Ph.D. Based on prior experience, it is believed that the unique environmental condi-tions and work-rest schedules aboard orbital spacecraft (i.e., the International SpaceStation (ISS)) will result in sleep decrements and fatigue in astronauts. This repor