Episode 82. Advances in Anti-ageing Medicine with Dr John Levin
Dr John Levin practices antiaging medicine and joins this podcast to discuss his practical approach to treatment. As John laments antiaging medicine is not taught in medical school yet he believes the science of anti-ageing holds the key to significantly reducing human suffering and improving health span. Whilst the average human life span continues to increase and modern medicine more efficiently tackles diseases, the science of anti-ageing looks at mechanisms leading to cell degeneration and decay and seeks ways to regenerate cell health and thereby delay the many diseases associated with ageing.
Many believe that regeneration clinics where therapies include removing senescent cells repairing damaged DNA and perhaps topping up a reservoir of stem cells will become a reality sooner than one might think. Until such time, however, the simple caveats of avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, adopting a healthy body mass index, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels, exercising, and paying attention to good nutrition, sleep and dental hygiene as well as receiving vaccination should be considered as best proven advice. John's approach dives deeper into the science and includes measurement of serum growth hormone with a physiological replacement only if required and he also uses a number of supplements included in the list below:
ANTI-AGING SUPPLEMENTS New York Academy of Science journal: work done by Cardiac Surgical Research Unit, Alfred Hospital, the Baker Heart Research Institute Melbourne and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash University showed that Co-Enzyme 010, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Magnesium Orotate helped protect the ageing heart against stress. In addition, work performed by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden showed that adding Selenium to Co-Q10 improved heart function and slashed mortality risks by almost 5O%. POO (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) not only protects mitochondria from oxidative stress -it promotes the spontaneous generation of new mitochondria within aging cells, a process known as 'mitochondrial biogenesis'.
Carnosine can provide benefits to cells and tissues throughout the body that would otherwise succumb to the pathological effects of aging. Over 2000 studies have shown the beneficial effects in preventing age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and cancer. Pterostilbene has multiple benefits in the treatment and prevention of human disease due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. Dr Bruce Ames, a world-renowned biochemist at the University of California showed that Acetyl L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid could provide protection against the pathological hallmarks of aging. L-Citrulline increases your L-arginine which is converted into nitric oxide which causes blood vessels to dilate and helps lower blood pressure. It helps the brain function by promoting greater circulation to the brain. It also helps the body get rid of ammonia in the form of urea.
Fisetin research by the Mayo Clinic shows it helps get rid of senescent cells (Cells that no longer divide). These cells accumulate with age and at sites of multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, lungs in chronic pulmonary diseases, vascular diseases and joints in osteoarthritis. NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) Professor David Sinclair, professor of Genetics at Harvard University says that this molecule is the missing key to regenerating healthy cells through 'old' age allowing your youthful existence to be sustained for much longer. Metformin New research is suggesting that metformin may hold promise in treating or preventing a whole host of conditions. It may be cardioprotective, it may prevent cancer, be neuroprotective and reduce dementia and stroke risk. D-Ribose Is involved in the energy production in all cells of the body.
References:
Ageless, Andrew Steele, Bloomsbury Publishing
End of Ageing, Aubrey De Grey with Michael Rae, Griffin Charles &Co Ltd
Lifespan, David Sinclair, Harper Collins
johnlevin@bigpond.net.au
To be a guest on the show or provide some feedback, I’d love to hear from you: manager@gihealth.com.au
Dr Luke Crantock MBBS, FRACP, is a gastroenterologist in practice for over 25 years. He is the founder of The Centre for GI Health, based in Melbourne Australia and is passionate about educating General Practitioners and patients on disease prevention and how to manage and improve their digestive health.