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Definitions

What is Anti-Aging Medicine?

Anti-Aging Medicine is a clinical/medical specialty and field of scientific research aimed at the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related decline. It is well documented by peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals and employs evidence-based methodologies to conduct patient assessments. The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine was established in 1997 as a professional physician certification and review board, which offers physician recognition in the form of specialty-based examination in Anti-Aging Medicine. Paraprofessionals may also now certify in Anti-Aging Medicine by a difference test in this newest and fastest growing medical specialty which represents over 20,000 physicians, scientists, and other health professionals, and the health-minded public from 80 countries worldwide.

What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative Medicine optimizes the body's endogenous mechanisms of self-repair and adds proven and near future exogenous treatments and technologies. Adult stem cells appear to be our most powerful tool at this time. Previous dogma concerning adult stem cells taught that neurons and myocytes did not have stem cells and the cells present at birth just declined in quantity and quality. It was also believed that hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow lacked plasticity and could not transform to other tissues. Current medical literature proves that adult stem cells exist in most tissues including brain, heart, muscles and liver. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in the bone marrow have plasticity to potentially transform and repair all tissues and organs.

• In the hormone optimization component of Anti-Aging Medicine we are already optimizing stem cells. Progesterone via its metabolite allopregnenolone stimulates neural stem cells, testosterone stimulates muscle stem cells and EPC's which can improve erectile function, and growth hormone treatment for adult growth hormone deficiency improves the quantity and quality of EPC's. Estradiol improves incorporation and mobilization of EPC's.
• In the lifestyle component of Anti-Aging medicine we are optimizing our adult stem cells with exercise and control of glucose and insulin.
• In the neutraceutical component of Anti-Aging Medicine we are optimizing our adult stem cells with Resveratrol as we turn on genes such as SIR1 and with blueberry, green tea and vitamin D3. DHA in omega 3 fish oil promotes neurogenesis from neuronal stem cells.

A new phase of Regenerative Medicine has recently commenced with cryogenic preservation of adult stem cells in healthy patients for future use. These patients are the same pro-active population who follow Anti-Aging programs. After stimulation with granulocyte colony stimulating factor adult stem cells can be collected by aphaeresis and stored in separate aliquots for treatment of specific pathologies such as acute myocardial infarction or for overall immune system reconstitution. This paradigm shift is referred to as bio-insurance.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is an integrative, science-based healthcare approach that treats illness and promotes wellness by focusing on the bio-chemically unique aspects of each patient, and then individually tailoring interventions to restore physiological, psychological, and structural balance.

Functional Medicine focuses on understanding the fundamental physiological processes, the environmental inputs, and the genetic predispositions that influence health and disease so that interventions are focused on treating the cause of the problem, not just masking the symptoms.

There are seven basic principles underlying functional medicine which include the following:

• Science-based medicine that connects the emerging research base to clinical practice.
• Biochemical individuality based on genetic and environmental uniqueness.
• Patient-centered care rather than disease-focused treatment.
• Dynamic balance of internal and external factors that affect total functioning.
• Web-like interconnections among the body's physiological processes also affect every aspect of functionality.
• Health as a positive vitality, not merely the absence of disease.
• Promotion of organ reserve.