Wendy Zuckerman

It's officially called the Harvard Study of Adult Development.

At the start of the study, pretty much everyone was a white guy.

Eventually, they let in women.

And a lot of their findings have been repeated by different groups all around the world.

So let's jump in.

Here's Professor Bob Waldinger.

Bob, you are the director of this amazing study.

For those who have never heard of it, what is kind of the driving question of this study?

So set the scene of how this study began.

It's the 1930s.

Who are scientists picking to study?

So it started in the 30s and 40s.

It's going all the way up to today, following the kids then of these people because none of the original participants still are living.

Very deep questions.

Other ones that I really sort of loved were, if you woke up frightened in the middle of the night, who would you call?

Tell me about what sort of scientific measurements you're doing.

Now, when you were first asked to join the study, because you're the fourth director.

In your book, you say that you were actually hesitant to join because you weren't sure how relevant this study was.

Because as you mentioned, these were old, mostly white men.

What made you change your mind?