What is Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine?
Anti-aging Medicine is an extension of preventive health care but in a more individualized manner.
This new field is based on the very early detection, prevention, and possibly reversal of degenerative diseases. Approximately 80% of all adult illness is due to the degenerative processes seen with aging. This includes heart disease, most cancers, adult-onset diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune disease, glaucoma, and Alzheimer's.
With early detection and appropriate intervention, most of these diseases can be prevented or have their downward course moderated.
The science of anti-aging medicine is truly multi- disciplinary. Not only represented by advances in the fields of biochemistry, biology, and physiology, the field is enhanced by contributions from mind/body medicine, sports medicine, molecular genetics, and emerging medical technologies. Anti-aging medicine is evidence-based, clinically sound health care.
Anti-aging Medicine is well documented by peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals and employs evidence-based methodologies to conduct patient assessments. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine was established in 1997 as a professional physician certification and review board, which offers physician recognition in the form of specialty-based examination in Anti-Aging Medicine.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative Medicine optimizes the body's endogenous mechanisms of self-repair and adds proven and near future exogenous treatments and technologies. Adult stem cells appear to be our most powerful tool at this time. Previous dogma concerning adult stem cells taught that neurons and myocytes did not have stem cells and the cells present at birth just declined in quantity and quality. It was also believed that hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow lacked plasticity and could not transform to other tissues. Current medical literature proves that adult stem cells exist in most tissues including brain, heart, muscles and liver. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in the bone marrow have plasticity to potentially transform and repair all tissues and organs.
In the hormone optimization component of Anti-Aging Medicine we are already optimizing stem cells. Progesterone via its metabolite allopregnenolone stimulates neural stem cells, testosterone stimulates muscle stem cells and EPC's which can improve erectile function. Estradiol improves incorporation and mobilization of EPC's.
In the lifestyle component of Anti-Aging medicine we are optimizing our adult stem cells with exercise and control of glucose and insulin.
In the neutraceutical component of Anti-Aging Medicine we are optimizing our adult stem cells with Resveratrol as we turn on genes such as SIR1 and with blueberry, green tea and vitamin D3. DHA in omega 3 fish oil promotes neurogenesis from neuronal stem cells.
A new phase of Regenerative Medicine has recently commenced with cryogenic preservation of adult stem cells in healthy patients for future use. These patients are the same pro-active population who follow Anti-Aging programs. After stimulation with granulocyte colony stimulating factor adult stem cells can be collected by aphaeresis and stored in separate aliquots for treatment of specific pathologies such as acute myocardial infarction or for overall immune system reconstitution. This paradigm shift is referred to as bio-insurance.
Dr. Matthew is Board Certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
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