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Robert Butler

President & CEO, International Longevity Center

Dr. Robert N. Butler is the President and CEO of the International Longevity Center. Whether through his many appearances in front of the United States Congress, or his hundreds of interviews with the media, Dr. Butler has worked tirelessly for decades to push population-aging issues into the public discourse. As a gerontologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Butler recognized discrimination against the elderly as early as 1968, coining the term "ageism." Eight years later, the publication of his Pulitzer-prize-winning "Why Survive? Being Old in America" solidified his reputation as someone who foresaw the impact that aging would have on American society. A founding director of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, as well as the nation's first department of geriatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Butler often consults for television and radio. He is the author of some 300 scientific and medical articles. Source: The International Longevity Center

Re: How does America treat its elderly compared to the rest of the world?

The problem if ageism is worldwide, says Butler.

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Does increased longevity necessitate population control?

These things balance themselves out, Butler says.

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A 70-something President

If an older person is capable and functioning, why not let him or her run?

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Is prolonging life necessary at all costs?

We shouldn’t just leave old people alone, Butler says.

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Dignified Care for the Elderly

Only one in ten nursing homes is up to Federal standards, Butler says.

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Re What will our hospital system look like when the last baby boomers retire?

We can do a lot more, Butler says, with outpatient care.

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How should society care for the elderly?

We are not prepared financially, Butler says.

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Re: Can human growth hormone slow aging?

Muscle mass does not substitute for muscle function, Butler says.

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The Future of Longevity Science

Butler is excited by the possibility that we could eliminate Alzheimer’s.

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Does the study of aging benefit humanity?

Healthy older people are productive citizens longer.

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When Will We Be Able to Stop Aging?

We won’t be able to stop aging completely, but Butler believes people will be able to live until they’re 120.

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Robert Butler on Sex Among the Elderly

Sexuality, Butler says, is not just intercourse.

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What are the effects of alcohol on aging?

Not only does alcohol have a negative impact on the brain, it is also highly associated with domestic abuse, child abuse and motor fatalities.

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Memory Loss and Old Age

Can science stop the course of memory loss?

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Common Aging Myths

Old people are not all sick and sexless, Butler says.

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The Benefits of Calorie Restriction

Butler thinks that restricting your intake will slow the aging process.

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The Mind-Body Connection

The Romans knew the secret thousands of years ago, Butler says.

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What is old age and why do we fear it?

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Robert Butler talks about the force of mortality.

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