Marco Pahor
Chairman, Department of Aging and Geriatrics Research, University of Florida

Marco Pahor is researching the long-term effectiveness of a physical activity program for seniors. [Photo: Ray Carson/University of Florida]

» Marco Pahor, director of the University of Florida Institute on Aging, wants to use research and training programs to help older adults stay healthy and physically independent. Pahor, 53 and an avid runner, scrutinizes the impact of physical activity on the aging process.

Under his direction, the institute has received more than 90 grants and has 40 more grant proposals pending. The grants include UF's largest — $64 million from the National Institute on Aging — to determine conclusively whether physical activity or a successful aging health education program can help older adults remain mobile longer. Pahor is leading a six-year study that researches the long-term effectiveness of a physical activity program and the effectiveness of a health education program for seniors. Until now, little has been known about whether physical activity or health education can actually help prevent major movement disability. "The loss of capacity to walk is a major problem for seniors," Pahor says. His study also will look at secondary outcomes such as falls, pulmonary events, cognition and memory. "We want to make sure there's truly a good way to improve our quality of life as we age."

Pahor and researchers at 15 other universities across the country are recruiting 1,600 people older than 70 to participate at eight sites. Pahor will begin compiling the data in the first quarter of 2014.

Beyond the new study, Pahor's team is tackling a range of aging-related issues, among them: Identifying cellular processes behind hearing loss and muscle loss and investigating whether a red wine extract can improve brain function.