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What's New in Anti-Aging ResearchPeople are starting to live longer. Because of this, anti-aging research has increased with the goal of helping us live a longer and healthier life. Several interesting breakthroughs in anti-aging have been reported by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. If you are interested in finding an anti-aging physician, they can point you in the right direction. I'm not a doctor but I do love to read. I've read several books on anti-aging and am continuing to research these areas. Stop back often to see what I've found out. Some of these breakthroughs are medical, while others deal with a more natural approach. Personally, I favor the more natural approach, but am not averse to medicine that is truly beneficial. If you find one of these techniques interesting or are interested in an antiaging treatment, be sure to research it more thoroughly and check with your doctor. One substance that doctors are researching is melatonin. It is responsible for regulating our sleep. When more is present in our system, we become sleepy and when the substance is decreased, we wake up. In fact, melatonin supplements are available for travelers to help combat jet lag. But what does that have to do with aging? As we age, our melatonin production decreases. Many older folks complain of not being able to sleep at night. This could be why. Our bodies repair themselves while we sleep, so sleep is important. But more than just helping us sleep, anti-aging research suggests that melatonin may in fact trick our bodies into thinking that we are still young and boost the immune system. Another hormone that decreases with age is the human growth hormone (known as hGH). Anti-aging research is also being done in this area. While this hormone has shown some success in building lean muscle and thickening skin, in addition to other benefits, there is still no indication of what the long term affects on the body might be. There are side effects to hGH and those wishing to enjoy its benefits should consult with their doctor. Synthetic hGH is only available through a doctor. Another alternative is to increase your body's ability to release more hGH into your blood stream. Although our bodies release less hGH into our blood as we age, our bodies still produce the same amount. High intensity exercise raises the hGH level in our blood. This includes activities such as lifting weights, sprinting and sports like racquetball. Activities that require short spurts of energy are more effective than constant activities like running or biking. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is the most abundant steroid hormone in our bodies. And as with other hormones, it too decreases with age. Research is being done to see if increasing this hormone can safely enhance our aging body systems. Proponents of this treatment believe that increasing DHEA to higher levels will also increase a person's health. Some physicians are prescribing this hormone, however more research still needs to be done. No long term studies have proven anti-aging benefits. If you have an interest in anti-aging research and the treatments that are available, check with your doctor. There are anti-aging physicians around the world. The
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
can assist you in finding out about these and other antiaging treatments.
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