Anti-Aging Medicine FAQ

What is anti-aging medicine, and how did it come about?

Anti-aging is a new medical subspecialty in which the aging process can be slowed, suspended and in some cases reversed. It came about as a shift in thinking from aging as an inevitable process to aging as a series of disease processes. Aging processes can be measured, and, as with any disease, there are symptoms and treatments.

Does a patient have to adopt a vegetarian diet to be successful?

The recommended diet is high in vegetable protein, fish and white-meat chicken. One should try to stay away from red meat because the liver, for example, has to work harder to convert the red meat proteins.

How quickly will a patient see results?

Improvement in energy is almost immediate. Significant differences usually take four to six months for DNA to regenerate in the body.

Is this a lifetime program?

Yes. It’s something you do for yourself the rest of your life.

What are cognitive enhancers?

Techniques to improve your mental acumen. Some involve natural herbs like gingko. Meditation is also an effective enhancer.

What kind of anti-aging supplements are prescribed?

As you age, you develop deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. A complete, balanced nutritional multi-vitamin, mineral and anti-oxidant complex is a major part of the treatment regime. You should ensure the quality of the substances you take, how much is absorbed by the body and not wasted, and whether it is pH balanced for acidity levels.

What is involved in hormone replacement therapy?

Hormones are chemical messengers that control bodily functions. Aging depletes the body’s hormonal levels. By measuring a patient’s level of hormones, a balanced hormone replacement can be prescribed to restore hormone levels to where they were in the patient’s early 30s. In many cases, this can be done naturally with secretogogues, which release the hormones already made by the body.

How is aging measured?

Medical tests called biomarkers actually indicate signs of aging at different levels down to DNA. At the functional level, things such as visual accommodation, auditory response and memory succession are tested. At the cellular level, a skin biopsy may be performed. To check biochemicals, hormones and cholesterol are checked. And to check for hereditary matter, DNA can be reviewed.

Is this a ‘fountain of youth?’

This is a program to extend the useful years of your life and improve the quality of those years.

How many years can a patient’s life be extended?

It depends upon the patient’s motivation, how early in life that treatment is started and how compliant the patient is. A reasonable expectation for someone who begins a rigorous program in their mid 30s could be an extra 10 to 20 years or more.

How do we know it’s safe medicine?

Anti-aging is a recognized medical subspecialty, and is measurable and documentable.

Can the aging process be reversed? Can someone feel young again?

Many patients can feel and function young again through restoring muscle loss, increased skin thickness, reduced total body fat and improved bone density. Patients have seen specific improvements in skin tightness and moisture, mental speed and clarity, enhanced sexual function, elevated mood and energy levels, improved aerobic capacity, greater immune function and increased wound-healing capacity.

Is this just for seniors and retirees? Who would benefit from this the most? When is it too late?

It’s almost never too late; however, the sooner you begin, the more benefits you derive from an improved quality of life. The people who benefit most are those who are motivated to stay healthy in their later years. It’s not just for seniors or retirees. Just as you save for retirement with pensions, preventive geriatrics helps you save for a healthier future.

Does anti-aging follow accepted medical procedures?

Anti-aging is a new subspecialty just like emergency medicine and family practice were 20 to 30 years ago. The first board certification exam for anti-aging physicians took place in 1997.

How does anti-aging medicine differ from wellness and holistic medicine?

Anti-aging medicine is a comprehensive practice of preventive medicine that incorporates components of holistic and wellness medicine, but goes beyond them with board-certified physicians utilizing specific high-tech testing procedures and medical treatments. Wellness and holistic medicine don’t generally deal in conventional therapies.