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Before beginning any anti-aging protocol, it is a good idea to establish a baseline for our starting point, so that we will know how far we’ve come. It is prudent to assemble a database as to our starting health status. Inexpensive batteries of lab tests including multi-channel chem screen testing, complete blood counts, thyroid tests with TSH and urinalysis are recommended for everyone. These are often available at discounted prices at regional “Health Fairs” sponsored by local hospitals and civic organizations. Men must have PSA testing and women must have Pap and pelvic examinations with appropriate breast cancer screening concomitant with the use of any type of hormone replacement.
In our longevity clinics, most patients get electrocardiograms as well as hair mineral analysis. Other specialized studies such as exercise treadmills or Cardiovision™ screens (coronary artery disease), spirometry (lung function), bone densitometry (osteoporosis), vascular doppler flow studies (arterial blockages), glucose tolerance testing (diabetes), cardiovascular profiles (homocysteine, lp(a), fibrinogen, CRP, etc.), digestive function testing, and others are performed on an individualized basis. This then establishes our clinical baseline, so that we know what we are treating.
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All of the recommendations in The Baby Boomers' Guide to Living Forever and this site are intended for people who have no specific disease other than aging. If you already know that you have, or you discover as a result of your screening that you have, any serious disease process, do NOT attempt "Self Help" exclusively. Find a doctor you trust, and work together to establish a treatment protocol. THIS IS IMPORTANT. |
In our offices, the next step is to look at specific markers of aging. First, we analyze our patients’ baseline hormone status. In addition to determining IGF-1 levels (for growth hormone), we will also test for DHEA-S. We usually measure serum testosterone, SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) and progesterone and estradiol levels. We always check a TSH for thyroid function. If menopause or peri-menopause is suspected, we may check an FSH and LH on women.
Next, we want to establish our patient’s biological age, because when all is said and done, that’s the bottom line. The biological age is what we’re really trying to reduce. At our anti-aging centers, we utilize specific equipment to help us measure the biological age of our patients.
These machines are state of the art, but since these tests must be performed in a physician’s office, I want to offer you some less sophisticated tests you can perform at home to monitor the success of your anti-aging therapies. I have also employed these same tests on patients in my office, and I have found that they work quite well for monitoring biological age. I wish to thank Dr. Ron Klatz for developing and presenting these protocols in his book, Hormones of Youth.
First, have someone take a ruler and suddenly drop it between your fingers. Measure how many inches it takes for you to catch it. This test measures reaction time, an age related parameter. Secondly, hold up a newspaper and see how many inches away from your face it takes for the small print to become clear. This is a good measure of visual accommodation. The closer you can see the better.
Thirdly, pinch the skin on the back of your hand between the base of your thumb and index finger. Hold the skin firmly for five seconds, then suddenly release it. You want to measure how long it takes for the crease you’ve created to disappear. This is a good test of skin aging. The quicker the skin returns to normal the better.
Fourth, determine how long you can stand on one foot with your eyes closed. Often this is a very quick test! While teenagers can often hold this position for several minutes, people above the age of 65 can often only do this momentarily.
We also recommend:
I have found these tests to be a very cost-effective determinant of biological age. (Particularly since they are free!) Originally, we used tables of average values scored by people of different ages for each test. We no longer do this, as we found there to be too much variability from person to person. Instead, what you want to do is just perform the tests strictly in comparison with yourself. As long as you do better on these tests and show improvement with time, you know you are going in the right direction and reducing your biological age with your anti-aging program.
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