Anti-aging Congress in India

18th-20th Dec,2009 held at Le Meridien, Mumbai

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For INDOMEDICON – a 3-Day Conference on Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine

“Our Hormones do not decline because we age, but we age because our hormones decline”

When Carol Greider, Elizabeth Blackburn and Jack Scoztak won this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine for their research on Telomere, it not only led to new insights into cancer cure, but constituted a major breakthrough in anti-aging research. Their findings are believed to hold the key to extending the lifespan of the human cell which, in turn, would translate into healthier organs, glowing skin and a sharper mind*.

While anti-aging research has been going on for many decades, it is only recently that major scientific advances are being achieved. Already, many researchers are touting anti-aging medicines as the wonder cure of the future for a variety of illnesses including cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart diseases, among others. Anti-Aging medicines can also help to enhance the immune system, increase sexual energy, improve skin tone & texture, increase energy levels, make one look and feel younger, and extend life.

Various research findings, practical applications of anti-aging medicine and variety of topics including major aging theories, premature aging syndromes, biological age measurement tools, lifespan medicine, diets for longer life, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Role of Stem Cells in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine will be presented to the medical fraternity of India at Hotel Le Meridien in Mumbai between December 18 and December 20, 2009 at INDOMEDICON 2009.

The occasion also marks the congregation of the top exponents of the anti-aging medicine from all over the world for the first time in India. Some of the key speakers include the world renowned Belgium based Dr. Thierry Hertoghe, President of World Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (WOSAAM) and Member of the International Advisory Board of American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; U.S. based Dr. Anoop Chaturvedi, Founder of Anti-Aging Medicine & Research (AMAR) and one of the most reputed practitioners of the therapy in the world; U.S. based Dr. David Powell; Presdient of Society for Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Medicine Malaysia (SAAAMM), Dato Dr. S Harnam, and others.

“A lot remains to be learned about this process, but the promise is more than enticing,” says Dr. Deepak Chaturvedi, President, INDOMEDICON 2009. But, he adds, even at its current level anti-aging medicine can help treat a variety of illness including obesity, menopause, andropause, memory lapses, wrinkles, sagging skin, loss of focus, fatigue, decreased libido, loss of muscle tone and endurance, age spots, and other conditions commonly associated with aging.

Explaining the concept of anti-aging practice in modern medicine, he says, “Aging, while inevitable, is a modifiable process. And, contrary to popular perception, anti-aging is not a war against aging but a science that delays and prevents the process of aging and one that treats age related disorders. It is about maintaining optimum functional levels and quality of life to modulate the aging process.”

The primary factors that accelerate aging are psychological, physiological, physical and medical. The psychological factors include societal pressures, traumas, low self-esteem, loss of focus and concentration troubles. The physiological factors include menopause and andropause. The physical factors include lack of exercise, poor diet, and habits such as cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. And the medical factors include Obesity, diabetes Mellitus, hypertension and Heart Disease, Hormonal Imbalances (Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, gonads etc.) cancer, organ dysfunction, acute and chronic medical and surgical ailments and Infections.

“In medical terms, Anti-aging or Regenerative Medicine is the study of body’s endogenous mechanism of self repair and optimization of reparative system with exogenous interventions and technology. It is a specialty and a field of scientific research, which is aimed at early detection, prevention, treatment and reversal of age related decline in the quality of life,” concludes Dr. Chaturvedi.

Footnote: In October 2009, Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak were named winners of Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine.  What their research concluded, in layman terms, is that whenever a cell divides (which it must do in order to heal a wound, refresh the skin, or rebuild organs to maintain their function), it must replicate the chromosomes that hold the DNA programming code. This is accomplished by a sort of unzipping of the DNA strands. At the end of each DNA is a sort of cap (like on a shoelace) called the telomere. The telomere limits the number of times the DNA (and therefore the cell) can replicate. But an enzyme called telomerase rebuilds the telomere. In cancer cells, this goes on continuously and out of control, but for anti-aging it may hold the key to extending the cell’s replicative lifespan. This in turn translates to healthier organs, glowing skin, and a sharper mind.

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I have started loving my new blog here :) After the first two posts, I think it’s time to get back to the serious stuff and educate my readers on the symptoms of premature aging. As I said in my first post, this is very important because most of the time the symptoms are confused with other faults and hence the important part is overlooked.

Some of the main recognizable features are:

• Excessive weight gain (obesity)
• Low energy / Easy fatigue
• Decreased sleep
• Mood swings / Anxiety
• Decreased memory / Lack of concentration
• Hair Loss / premature graying of hair
• Low Libido / impotence
• Menstrual Irregularities in women
• Premature wrinkles
• Hot flashes in women
• Fibromyalgia / arthritis.

Now the causes of premature aging can be modifiable or genetic (which can not be modified)

Modifiable Causes:

• Unhealthy lifestyle: No exercise, inappropriate diet, addiction and substance abuse, Stress and inappropriate sleep
• Medical causes: Obesity, diabetes Mellitus, hypertension and Heart Disease, Hormonal Imbalances (Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, gonads etc.) cancer, organ dysfunction, acute and chronic medical and surgical ailments, Infections.

Non Modifiable causes:

• Genetic (Leptin, adiponectin, ob etc), Progeria, Idiopathic (where cause cannot be found.)

I know, I know :) That’s quite a list, but it’s all true! One more important question I want to address in this post is ‘How is obesity related to premature aging?’

Well it’s actually quite a debatable question in academic circles. As we pack more and more into each day, we also start aging faster. There are two schools of thought:

• Obesity itself is a risk factor or a direct cause for many diseases like Diabetes Mellitus-II, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Hypertension, Heart diseases, Obstructive sleep apnea, Respiratory Diseases, Gall stones, PCOD, Impotence, Infertility, Backache, Depression, cancers (breast, cervix, Uterus, Colon, Rectum, Pancreas etc.)
• Obesity is a consequence of many underlying diseases and hormonal Imbalances like Hypogonadism, Menopause, Andropause, Somatopause, Depression, Central Nervous System pathology and many more conditions. All these conditions influence the quality of life and survival adversely.

I hope that all these words have been of some help to my readers :)

Cheers

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1. Avoid or quit smoking.
2. Get the right exercise.
3. Eat a nutritious diet and avoid junk food.
4. Avoid overuse of prescription medications
5. Do not use recreational drugs
6. Get the required amount of sound sleep every night

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Amitabh Bacchan has aged so gracefully. Like they say, good wine matures with time :) He truly is a legend in my eyes.

I am sure that most of you would have seen the promos of the movie PAA. The movie is based on a rare condition Progeria which is associated with premature aging. The disease is genetic.

Progeria (also known as “Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria syndrome”) is an extremely rare and genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age. Those born with Progeria typically live about thirteen years, although many have been known to live into their late teens.

When I said that it is a genetic condition, it means that it occurs because of a mutation in the DNA. Thankfully, it’s not usually inherited. Scientists are particularly interested in Progeria because it might reveal clues about the normal process of aging. Though Progeria has been identified as non-curable till now, there are numerous conditions which are modifiable and treatable if identified on time and hence prevent premature aging.

It really pleases my heart to see Hindi movies coming out on such sensitive topics which always help in creating awareness.

Regards,
Dr. Deepak Chaturvedi

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The fundamentals of anti-aging

With increasing pressure on daily lives, more and more people in the world are showing signs of premature aging. The common symptoms of premature aging are excessive weight gain, depression, fatigue, insomnia and hair loss. I think that in India, we treat the symptoms without trying to identify the underlying causes. So, typically, we would see a victim of premature aging enrolling for a weight loss programme, taking sleeping pills or other symptomatic cures. And the real problem continues to grow because curing obesity and hair loss merely controls the symptoms.

Premature aging is a disease by itself and requires specific and specialized treatment. Anti-aging Medicine is a specialty and a field of scientific research, which is aimed at early detection, Prevention, Treatment and Reversal of age related decline in the quality of life. It is not merely anti-wrinkle or Geriatric Medicine but can be defined as wholesome approach to health, and of the general well being of the self.

One question which I am asked a lot of times is that what exactly is the anti-aging treatment? I believe that there are no ‘simple one-medicine-for-all’ solutions. Each case is different and requires customized treatments.

But if we speak in a broad sense, the anti-aging protocol identifies the stressor and modifies the perception and reaction to it through intensive counselling. Once the stressor – physiological or psychological – has been identified, the patient is put through either one, all or a combination of treatments that include Preventive Medicine, Diagnostics, Therapeutic Medicine, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Stem Cells Therapy, Neutrigenomics and Life Style Medicine.

This form of treatment is regarded by many in the West as the future of medicine. In the field of Anti-aging practice it is believed that our Hormones do not decline because we age, but we age because our hormones decline. Restoring the hormones to their optimal levels can help relieve a variety of conditions including Obesity, menopause, andropause, memory lapses, wrinkles, sagging skin, loss of focus, fatigue, decreased libido, depression, anxiety, low energy, loss of muscle tone and endurance, age spots, and other conditions commonly associated with aging. Hormone Replacement Therapy can not only alleviate the symptoms and problems associated with the above conditions, but can also help to enhance the immune system, increase sexual energy, improve skin tone & texture, increase energy levels, make you look and feel years younger, and extend life.

I am really happy that I posted this first post on anti aging :) If anyone has more detailed questions or would like me to talk about a specific topic, just leave me a comment!

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