What is anti-ageing medicine?

An understanding of age-related changes enables us to better grasp the potential for contemporary medical discoveries and applications of biomedical technology to slow down or reverse the ageing process.

There’s a lot more to the field of anti-ageing than the lotions and potions stacked on your supermarket shelves. Anti-ageing is the buzzword you see plastered across a wealth of creams on the supermarket shelves. But there’s more to anti-ageing as a medical specialty than the masking of fine lines and wrinkles.

Whilst the anti-ageing movement encompasses those concerned with eradicating the physical characteristics of ageing, the extension of life through “prevention” medicine is of equal concern. Anti-ageing medicine tries to do just what it says – to stop or slow down the ageing process. It is an extension of preventative health care, and treatments are designed to prolong the human life span and to improve our quality of life as we grow older. According to the AustralAsian Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine (A5M), anti-ageing medicine is based on a preventative approach to patient care – the early detection, prevention and treatment of age-related disease. It is a philosophy borne out of the principles of Sports Medicine that uses a proactive approach to creating a healthy mind and body.

Dr Robert Goldman, co-founder of the American Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine (A4M), believes the aim of anti-ageing medicine is to go one step further than slowing down the ageing process, as it is also designed to keep the body functioning at its optimum level. He says anti-ageing medicine is three things:

1. Scientific: There is scientific evidence to support anti-ageing diagnostic and treatment practices.
2. Evidence-based: Effective treatment is assigned based on a process for acquiring data in order to formulate a scientific, and objective assessment.
3. Well-documented by peer reviewed journals.

Developers of anti-ageing medicines are trying to find new ways to detect, prevent and treat ageing-related disease, and to promote research and technological advances into methods to retard and optimise the human ageing process. This is becoming increasingly important because, according to American studies, 90 per cent of healthcare dollars are spent in the final two to three years of life. In fact, one hundred million Americans are currently being treated for degenerative diseases, at a health care cost of US$700 million each year. A cost that can be extrapolated for Australia.

The aim of anti-ageing medicine is to slow this trend. And, if the ageing process is to be slowed, focus must be placed on the degenerative diseases of ageing. Because, researchers say, if we can slow ageing, we can eliminate more than 50 per cent of disease overnight.

Ninety per cent of all adult illness is due to the degenerative processes of ageing. This includes heart disease, most cancers, adult-onset diabetes, stroke, high-blood pressure, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune disease, glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease. With early detection, A4M says most of these diseases can be prevented, cured or have their downward course reversed.

If you’ve ever had a mammogram, your cholesterol tested or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) you have experienced anti-ageing medicine, therefore. Medical knowledge is said to double about every three and a half years, and new advances in the anti-ageing medical specialties such as stem cells, cloning, nanotechnology and artificial organs are integral to anti-ageing medicine.

Dr Goldman says these areas of research offer “unprecedented capacities to preserve and enhance our minds and bodies.” Dr Ronald Klatz, president of the A4M, is also enthusiastic about developments in anti-ageing technology. “What was merely speculative technology just five years ago is now medical reality, and the realisations of the full implications of many advancements may only be one to two years away. Each of us alive today now has a real chance to live, and live well, at age 150,” he said.

5 theories to live by

According to the A5M, the following five anti-ageing theories can assist in increasing your longevity.

1. Inflammation Theory Although inflammation is blamed for many chronic diseases, as well as ageing, it’s not always clear what the underlying cause is. Blood tests can measure pro-inflammatory cells known as cytokines that give you some idea of the presence of inflammation in your body. Eating a poor diet, not getting adequate sleep, and exposure to the sun are some factors that can create inflammation at a cellular level. This kind of inflammation can lead to many age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease. Eating a diet rich in whole food and exercising regularly is a great start to minimise inflammation. By doing so, it’s possible to curtail disease, extend life, and look younger.
2. Hormonal Theory Levels of key hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), thyroid, and human growth hormone (HGH) all decline with age. Experts suggest increasing one or more of these essential biochemicals may improve health, whilst hindering the ageing process. However, doing so requires the careful supervision of a specialist. As you modify one hormone, you affect the others. For example, according to Dr Klatz, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) adjusts each hormone so you can achieve a more youthful state of the major hormones across the board.
3. Antioxidant Theory Antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E protect the body’s cells and help prevent free radical damage. Experts believe the prevention of free radical damage, which is caused by ageing, stress, sun and pollution, in both the body and the skin can stall the ageing process. A good multivitamin, or topical application that contains the antioxidant vitamins, as well as minerals is therefore thought to be essential to help combat free radical activity. Zinc, iron and other essential minerals also play a key role in supporting overall wellness.
4. Lifestyle Theory What we eat, drink and expose ourselves to through our day-to-day lives can influence how quickly or slowly we age. Exposure to stress, for example, increases production of the hormone cortisol – the so-called “stress hormone” – which directly affects how we age. From an early age, we have the ability to make decisions concerning our lifestyle, which will determine how fast we age. Not only does cortisol impact on hormones and skin ageing, but it also makes us gain body fat, lose muscle mass and memory. Additional factors such as consuming sugary and fried foods, excess alcohol and smoking, cause cortisol and insulin levels to rise, accelerating the ageing process.
5. Detox Theory When the body’s ability to detoxify itself is impaired by external and internal toxins, it can’t find equilibrium, which is important for maintaining good health. This leads to fatigue, trouble with cognitive function and eventually can lead to diseases such as certain cancers. Toxins affect the skin when foods high in fat, sugar, and other chemicals in the diet cause a hormonal, nutritional and cellular change that impair the body’s ability to detoxify itself. They manifest in acne, dry patches, allowing of colour, dark circles, wrinkles and more. A detox program begins with what you eat. A healthy diet, free from sugar, and ample water is essential in order to clear out toxins.