The anti-aging movement is a social movement[1] of physicians and other health providers and patients, usually aging and wealthy, who are engaged in an assault on the effects of aging.[2] A substantial portion of the attention of the movement is on the possibilities for life extension, but there is also interest in techniques such as cosmetic surgery which ameliorate the effects of aging rather than delay or defeat it.
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Anti-aging medicine has become a budding and rapidly growing medical specialty as physicians who initially sought treatment for themselves have received training and certification in its practice[1] by organizations such as the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
Aging is not considered a disease and is not covered by medical insurance. Practitioners cater to wealthy patients who pay cash. Often physicians who seek training and certification in the field are those who have sought treatment on their own behalf.[3]
Some recent clinical studies have shown that low-dose GH treatment for adults with GH deficiency changes the body composition by increasing muscle mass, decreasing fat mass, increasing bone density and muscle strength, improves cardiovascular parameters (i.e. decrease of LDL cholesterol), and affects the quality of life without significant side effects.[4][5][6]Central to anti-aging medicine is administration of human growth hormone (HGH),[7] It has the effect, in adults, of increasing muscle mass, reducing fat, and increasing energy. It also has dangerous side-effects. But anti-aging practitioners claim it is safe at low dosage. It is not approved for use in healthy aging patients. That restriction is gotten around by means of a diagnosis of some injury or organic condition, adult growth hormone deficiency,[3] which supposedly has resulted in reduced secretion of the hormone.[8]
Administration of Estrogen and other hormones such as progestin were popularized by the 1966 book, Feminine Forever by Robert A. Wilson.[9] However, the increase of the use of estrogen was shown to be associated with an increased risk of cancer.[10] Later, in 2002, research into the long-term effects of estrogen on post-menopausal women, the Women’s Health Initiative,[11] produced evidence that that there were serious side effects. Physicians who prescribe the hormones now prescribe low doses of the drugs. Research into the long-term effects of HRT are continuing, with a 2009 Cochrane review concluding that long-term use may decrease the risk of bone fractures, but increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks and breast cancer.[12]
An annual conference is held which in addition to presentations by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), offers booths and presentations by manufactures of products and providers of services. The 17th annual conference was held December 9–12, 2009 at the THEhotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the A4M website[13] key conference topics:
Biogerontology is a scientific discipline which has the same area of interest, but as a branch of Gerontology, takes a more conservative approach.[14]
Age Management Medicine distinguishes itself from anti-aging by being a more evidence based, proactive, preventative approach to healthcare for an aging population focused on preservation of optimum human function and quality of life making every effort to modulate the process of aging prior to the onset of degenerative aging. Led by the Age Management Medicine Group (AMMG), which provides education and information on the specialty of Age Management Medicine to physicians and healthcare professionals through evidence-based continuing medical education conferences, workshops, seminars, certifications, publications and web media.[2]
A substantial fraction of older people, taking their cue from alternative medicine, purchase and use herbal supplements and other products which promise relief from the incidents and dangers of aging. These products are nearly always useless and sometimes are harmful.[15]
There is a great deal of over-heated rhetoric in use with respect to life extension with over-optimistic projections on the part of its advocates. There is little evidence that any significant break through has been made, or is on the horizon.[16] A study of the common supplements and hormone treatments used published in 2006 in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine showed than none of them are effective with respect to extending life.[17]
Thomas T. Perls of Boston University described the techniques used by anti-aging practitioners as of little or no value, and as nothing but schemes by quacks to separate the elderly from their money.[18]