TILDA/MISA event explores why education determines when we die?

Posted on: 23 August 2023

Trinity College, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), and Mercers Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA) welcomed Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton and Anne Case (Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton), authors of the New York Times bestseller ‘Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism’for a fascinating discussion of how the flaws in capitalism are fatal for the health of America’s working class.

Event attendees included government organisations, the healthcare field, academic institutions, and the current student body of various universities, and principal investigators of the global network of ageing studies.

Deaton and Case presented data showing that, as the college educated have become healthier and wealthier in the U.S., adults without a degree are suffering from deaths of despair including suicide, drug overdose, and alcoholism. The causes, they said, are complex but include the weakening position of labour, the growing power of corporations, and an exorbitantly expensive healthcare system. They provided new data on the impact of inequality on the working classes in the U.S. and the slow decay of the American dream.

The event took place in honour of Dr James P. Smith. Dr Smith was a mentor and friend to many, generously giving of his time to promising junior investigators. As well as providing mentorship, he co-authored a number of papers with young TILDA researchers. As Chairman of TILDA’s Scientific Advisory Board, the team will remember him for his intellect, quick wit and deep love of Ireland.

Angus Deaton was a close friend of Dr. Smith’s and he reflected upon their professional and personal journey together. Joined by Dr. Smith’s friends and colleagues from the National Institutes of Health and the global network of ageing studies which Jim Smith helped to create, the event celebrated Dr. Smith’s legacy and contributions to universities and research organisations from around the world.

Trinity’s Regius Rose Anne Kenny said:

 “ Jim Smith was a dear friend and colleague. He made many contributions to Irish ageing research over two decades and his generosity knew no bounds.  Dr. Smith was chair of the Scientific advisory board of TILDA for over 12 years, a member of the MISA advisory board at St James Hospital and an honorary fellow of Trinity College (2017). He is greatly missed and we were delighted to host this memorial in his honour at Trinity College.”

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