Changes in the Process of Aging during the Twentieth Century: Findings and Procedures of the Early Indicators Project

Describes procedures & findings of, Early Indicators of Later Work Levels, Disease & Death, an ongoing longitudinal study of the aging of Union Army veterans of the American Civil War that was begun in 1991. One surprising finding was the discovery that chronic diseases began earlier in the life cycle & were more severe in the early 20th century than at the end of it. The projects prehistory & research design are described, along with findings related to the prevalence & severity of chronic diseases /disabilities among Union Army veterans; changes in the burden of chronic diseases in those over the age of 50; & the significance of alterations in body size. The findings led to the development of the theory of technophysio evolution, which indicates that increasing human control of the environment has allowed human populations to increase average body size & improve the health of vital organ systems, thereby doubling the life span. The implications of technophysio evolution for analysis & measurement are discussed. Tables, Figures, References. J. Lindroth