Is There an Antiaging Medicine?

Abstract

In spite of considerable hype to the contrary, there is no convincing evidence that currently existing so-called "antiaging" remedies promoted by a variety of companies and other organizations can slow aging or increase longevity in humans. Nevertheless, a variety of experiments with laboratory animals indicate that aging rates and life expectancy can be altered. Research going back to the 1930s has shown that caloric restriction (also called dietary restriction) extends life expectancy by 30-40% in experimental animals, presumably at least partially by delaying the occurrence of age-dependent diseases. Mutations that decrease production of insulin growth factor I in laboratory mammals, and those that decrease insulin-like signaling in nematodes and fruit flies, have increased life expectancy as well. Other general strategies that appear promising include interventions that reduce oxidative stress and/or increase resistance to stress; hormone and cell replacement therapies may also have value in dealing with specific age-related pathologies. This article reports the findings of a consensus workshop that discussed what is known about existing and future interventions to slow, stop, or reverse aging in animals, and how these might be applied to humans through future research.

Anti-aging health check-up system

“…Antiaging is based on the medical approach of helping people to grow old in good health and spirit, rather than abandoning themselves to old age. In fact, it has even been called "the ultimate in preventive medicine" for healthy longevity 5) . As stated earlier, the mechanism of aging includes both physical aging and biological aging.…”

“…As such, this area of guidance requires even greater expertise and individual approach than that for eating. In addition to the basic daily workload of walking, etc., exercise guidance in anti-aging health check-up also involves correct guidance, tailored to individual circumstances, on aerobic exercise mainly designed to burn fat, anaerobic exercise mainly designed to increase muscle mass, and stretching mainly designed to extend the range of joint movement or to inhibit decreases in the range of motion 5) . We also stress the possibility that muscle thinning in elderly persons can lead to various problems.…”

A Brief History of Geriatrics

“…Numerous complementary and alternative medicine products and techniques are regularly used by older persons (21)(22)(23). The Journals have published a number of articles pointing out the pitfalls of the antiaging industry (24)(25)(26). However, it would seem that, as long as humans are unprepared to ''go gentle into that good night,'' the anti-aging industry will continue to be driven by market forces (27).…”

Strategies to Reduce Age-Related Skeletal Muscle Wasting

“…99 This extends life expectancy by 30-40% if initiated early in the animal's life, and by about 20% if started in middle age. 100 In a recent study of aged (26-28 month old) F344 rats, long-term (life-long) calorie restriction was an effective intervention against the loss of muscle function with age. 101 It is proposed that the main mechanism responsible for such longevity is reduced reactive oxygen species formation and thus reduced oxidative damage to cellular structures.…”