Renee Twibell, associate professor of nursing, says the generation now entering its 50s expects to live not only longer but more active lives.

Twibell is a featured speaker at the Kirkpatrick Conference on Aging April 22 sponsored by Ball State’s Center for Gerontology. The theme is "Horizons in Aging: The Boomers Grow Gray."

"Baby boomers as a whole can expect a longer life span," she said. "They want to live healthier, happier, more productive lives as they age and trends show this will happen. Their ideal is to still be able to run a mini-marathon the day before dying."

Twibell, a critical care nurse, is researching how the health care system can prepare to deal with the major illnesses aging boomers will face.

"Cancer mortality should decrease markedly during the first half of the next century," Twibell said. "The boomers are saying they know what predisposes us to cancer. They are looking at the research, making the right lifestyle choices and seeking early detection. If they do all that, they can conceivably prevent having cancer.’

One type of diabetes may also be prevented with a new vaccine within 15 years, Twibell said, while diet and exercise can prevent other forms of the disease. Also expected are injection of insulin by nasal spray and development of an artificial pancreas.

Baby boomers can also expect technology to provide new ways of treating and preventing illnesses. Twibell cited creation of cell proteins that can repair diseased blood vessels, thus preventing heart disease and strokes.

"Through genetic engineering we have learned how to look at an individual’s genetic composition and identify a specific gene that can cause an illness," Twibell said. "We can then go in and repair that defective gene.’

On the other hand, Twibell said bacteria are becoming more virulent and resistant. The issue of cloning will create increased ethical and economic controversies. She also expects an increase in sexually transmitted diseases for which drugs may prove ineffective.

"Some new 'exotic’ diseases may pop up that we will have to identify and learn to deal with," Twibell said. "But this generation has the 'can do’ attitude to make the changes they will need to make to live healthy and longer."

(Note to Editors: For more information about this story, contact Renee Twibell at (765) 285-1663 or rtwibell@bsu.edu.)