Anti-Aging Medicine – a definition

At the end of the 80's and the beginning of the 90's the idea of anti-aging medicine became popular. Scientists tried to answer basically 2 questions:

• What are the factors that determine premature aging?
• How would one diagnose and treat aging if we would regard it as a disease and not as a physiological process?

The genetic aging program and the detection of the immortality enzyme
The first question was basically answered by new findings in gene technology. Scientists were able to find an essential key to cell aging: The telomeres that are situated at the end of chromosomes in each cells DNA. Every time a cell replicates – with the exception of germ cell (sperms and ovaries) and tumor cells – the telomeres are shortened. Finally this lack of protection of the chromosomes causes alterations, mutations and aging of cells. Germs cell and tumor cells don't show these alterations and aging, they have the capacity to replicate infinitely. The reason: They produce an enzyme – the so-called telomerase – that keeps the telomeres intact during the replication process. That's why this enzyme is referred to as the " immortality enzyme". Physicians like the neurobiologist Prof. Michael Fossel from the Michigan State University, assume that a future telomerase therapy might be able to set back the biological watch in healthy cells as well as help to find a cure to prevent the unlimited growth of tumor cells. "The most important change in the history of mankind has already begun within 20 years we are able to prevent aging and set back our biological watches. 80 year old people are going to feel like 20 year old and are going to exercise like young people."

Genetically determined risks of aging - SNIPS

Even if a telomerase therapy has not been developed yet, there is a multitude of other genetic factors that determine individual aging. Modern gene diagnostic can determine so-called SNIPS, miniscule alterations of genes (mutations). These individual SNIPS are decisive for our individual predisposition to develop diseases or metabolic changes. If these predispositions are diagnosed early, targeted concepts of anti-aging medicine such as nutrition, exercise, relaxation or individual drug, vitamin or mineral substitutions can counteract the genetically determined aging risks.

Environmental and lifestyle-determined aging
To the same extend as the aging process is determined by genes it is determined by environmental and individual lifestyle factors. Too much sun exposure, too much stress, too much alcohol and other toxic substances, a high body mass index, poorly balanced nutrition, too little sport and exercise, too little social contacts or a predominantly negative perspective on life – all these are factors that influence premature aging. Modern anti-aging medicine tries to counteract these factors by individually taylor-designed lifestyle modifications with nutrition, exercise or relaxation plans.

How can aging or premature aging be diagnosed?

Anti-Aging physicians utilize a variety of different diagnostic tools such as the computer-aided H-Scan, Bio-Scan or Meissner-Pöthig Scan in order to determine the discrepancy between the calendar age and the biological age of a person. These computer models contain large data files of healthy people in different age groups. This allows to show in a personalized test the individual deviation from the cohort of the age group for example in terms of vital capacity, reaction time or memory. A deviation shows whether a person over performs the median values of the control group and is therefore biologically younger or underperforms and is therefore aging prematurely. Anti-Aging physicians analyze these results; induce special laboratory diagnostics and work on a plan with their client in order to optimize performance and functional deficits again.

Dermatological anti-aging test
hautok offers kind of a dermatological anti-aging test by means of >> an individual skin analysis using Visia®. By means of this computer-aided skin analysis device skin specifics such as UV-damage or amount and depth of wrinkles are diagnosed and compared with the data of persons in the same age group. The analyses helps to optimize the daily skin care routine and the use of special skin care products and helps to plan a focused esthetic-dermatological program. Anyhow dermatological anti-aging is more than just a corrector of wrinkles. >> more information.

You are as old as you feel you are

At the end of the 90ies a huge prospective study showed astonishing result. On the average 95 years old feel 25 years younger, 70 years old feel 15 years younger than they are. The desired age is even less: Men who are over 90 years of age would like to become 60 again, women between 75 and 79 years of age would like to be in their 50ies again.  The new holistic concepts and approaches of anti-aging medicine and modern esthetic-dermatological medicine open up new possibilities: Finally we are not only going to feel 20 years younger, but maintain our health, performance and looks at such a level.