Anti-Aging
Natural Aging

What is “anti-aging medicine”?

The following is the definition given by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (of which I am a member):  “Anti-aging medicine is a clinical specialty founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases.  It is a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy lifespan in humans.  As such, anti-aging medicine is based on principles of sound and responsible medical care that are consistent with those applied in other preventive health specialties.  The phrase “anti-aging,” as such, relates to the application of advanced biomedical technologies focused on the early detection, prevention, and treatment of aging related disease.”    (http://www.worldhealth.net/pdf/A4M-2013-Position-Statement-HRT.pdf)

“The clinical specialty of anti-aging medicine utilizes diagnostic protocols that are supported by scientific evidence to arrive at an objective assessment upon which effective treatment is assigned.  Physicians who dispense anti-aging medical care are concerned with the restoration of optimal functioning of the human body’s systems, organs, tissues, and cells…  Anti-aging medicine is, in essence, a euphemism for early detection and advanced preventative medicine.  It is a healthcare model that emphasizes personalized, patient-focused, high-quality, metabolic-specific medical care.”    (ibid.)

What is “natural aging”?

“Natural” is a very attractive concept, and I myself seek out the natural.  Unnatural is, well, probably bad.  But if you think about it, what does “nature” really mean?  It turns out to be elusive.  Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nature) lists more than eight different meanings of “nature”, including these:

  • The physical constitution or drives of an organism, especially an excretory organ or function — used in phrases like “the call of nature”.
  • Humankind’s original or natural  A simplified mode of life resembling this condition.
  • The physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people.

The bottom line:  OPTIMAL AGE MANAGEMENT is what we want.