Aging is an inevitable process!

As time passes, somatic cells, when they reach the end of their lifespan, cease to be renewed, unlike during youth. For renewal to occur, somatic cells need to divide, generating daughter cells that are identical to the original cell, with the function of replacing aged and non-functional cells. The lack of cellular renewal results in various diseases and pathological conditions, such as dementia, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, among others.

Symptoms of Ageing

The symptoms related to ageing are varied and generally develop gradually, intensifying over time:

- Frequent fatigue and a decrease in physical and mental energy;

- Reduction in the ability to concentrate, socialise, and engage in activities;

- Memory difficulties, mood changes, and irritability;

- Decreased willingness and desire to engage in physical exercise;

- Reduced sense of well-being and quality of sleep;

- Limitation or absence of motivation and sexual capacity.

Signs of Ageing

The visible signs of ageing are also diverse and easy to identify:

- Thinner and less abundant hair due to hair loss and slower growth;

- Increased wrinkles, loose skin, and age spots;

- Thinner and more fragile nails and skin;

- Pseudogynaecomastia (apparent enlargement of the torso in men);

- Osteoporosis;

- Greater ease in gaining weight or accumulating subcutaneous and visceral fat;

- Reduction in muscle density, strength, and volume.

Age-related Diseases

As mentioned, ageing can result in various pathologies. The most common include:

- Cardiovascular diseases secondary to atherosclerosis;

- Decline in kidney function;

- Increased blood fat levels (hyperlipidaemia) and decreased insulin resistance;

- Loss of bone mass;

- Reduction in protein synthesis and healing capacity;

- Heart failure;

- Compromise of immune capacity;

- Changes in response to cancerous diseases.

Combating Ageing

Delaying or halting the ageing process to reduce health risks is essential for healthy and high-quality ageing. Anti-Aging Medicine today offers real options to prolong youth and, in some cases, reverse ageing.

What to Do?

Restoring hormones that decrease over time can help individuals of both genders regain youthful conditions safely. In other words, this allows people to live longer with better health and quality of life. However, hormonal levels and individual reactions vary among people and throughout each person's life. Therefore, to optimise results, hormonal modulation therapy should be carefully adjusted and monitored.

Anti-ageing medicine is a medical specialty that emerged approximately 30 years ago in the United States as part of a movement initially uniting 12 doctors. These professionals had an innovative vision of health, advocating that taking care of one's health is the opposite of passively waiting for diseases or injuries to occur. This more active and proactive approach focuses on addressing the fundamental causes of ageing rather than merely treating its consequences.

The aim is to align the biological, metabolic, and hormonal parameters of individuals over the age of 40 (generally when the first signs of ageing become visible, although these signs can now appear at increasingly younger ages) with those of a healthy person of about 22 years. At this point in life, human beings reach the peak of their performance from which the ageing process begins.

What is Anti-ageing Medicine?

Based on prevention, anti-ageing medicine requires the active participation of the patient and encompasses various practices:

- Assessment and optimisation of hormonal levels;

- Assessment and optimisation of vitamin D levels;

- Promotion of a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally, which includes:

- Recommendations for regular exercise and meditation; - Maintaining cognitive challenges and stimuli;

- Assessment of body composition;

- Nutritional consultations to alter eating habits;

- Improvement of sleep quality;

- Stimulation of cellular renewal through laser treatments;

- Analysis of genomic information.

In addition to these practices, each individual should seek activities that bring them pleasure and allow for continuous cognitive, mental, and material development, taking into account their personal ambitions. For some, this may mean starting a new business venture; for others, learning a new language, solving puzzles (or engaging in other logic and strategy games), doing volunteer work, or taking a course.

Anti-ageing medicine cannot stop time, but it has the potential to slow down the ageing process, significantly reducing the risks of disease onset by replenishing the essential elements for human balance. Today, anti-ageing medicine is viewed as a contemporary approach that aims for the future.

Hormonal modulation enables individuals with signs or symptoms of ageing to achieve ideal hormone levels that resemble those at the beginning of adulthood.

This supplementation process utilises bioidentical hormones, along with nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, among others. In contrast, hormone replacement therapy aims to restore the levels considered “normal” (standard) for the corresponding age group.

Hormonal modulation therapy is recommended for all patients who wish to improve their quality of life, delay the ageing process, or simply maintain vitality and wellbeing for a longer period. This treatment should be complemented by a balanced diet and regular physical exercise.

The hormonal profile is determined through laboratory tests. After analysing the results, it is possible to define the most suitable therapy to restore hormonal balance and achieve an ideal hormonal pattern.

The most desirable hormonal pattern is one that approaches full youth, specifically that of around 25 years of age. Ageing occurs because the amount of available hormones in the body progressively decreases from the age of 30, becoming more noticeable from the age of 40.

The hormones used in bioidentical hormonal modulation have a structure and functions similar to those present in the body, making them safer, more effective, and easier to adjust.

Since the Human Genome Project began in 1990, which deciphered the human genetic code (DNA), the use of bioidentical hormones has become feasible. These hormones are identical to those produced by the body’s glands, such as estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.

Estradiol: Produced by the ovaries, its production drastically decreases during menopause. It helps protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Progesterone: Also secreted by the ovaries, its production is reduced to minimal levels during menopause and is related to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It aids in protection against diseases such as breast and uterine cancer, ovarian cysts, and postpartum depression.

DHEA: Secreted by the adrenal glands, it is a precursor to other sex hormones. It contributes to reducing cardiovascular risk, lowering cholesterol and body fat, stimulates the immune system, and promotes a sense of wellbeing.

Testosterone: Although commonly associated with men, testosterone is also present in the female body, being produced in the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries. Among its benefits are increased muscle mass, reduced body fat, increased bone density, improved sexual, relational, and social health, and combating depression.

Somatropin, known as Growth Hormone, was isolated and used for therapeutic purposes for the first time in 1956. Until 1989, its supply was sourced from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain.

From 1959 to 1989, due to a shortage of Somatropin, its use was restricted to children with growth problems, which led to its designation as Growth Hormone.

The production of this hormone gradually declines at a rate of 1 to 3% per year, starting from the age of 30. By around the age of 60, hormone levels drop to less than half of what is detected at 25 years, resulting in a decreased ability of the body to repair damaged cells, which is reflected in the aging process.

The decrease in levels of Human Growth Hormone (or Somatropin) in adults is associated with mental and emotional symptoms, such as fatigue, propensity towards depression, social isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, and memory problems. Physically, it may result in increased abdominal fat, loss of muscle mass, reduced bone density, and thin, sagging, wrinkled skin, alongside alterations in lipid metabolism and glucose intolerance.

The lack of this hormone in adults is also linked to diminished heart function, reduced life expectancy, and sarcopenia (loss of muscle tissue).

Somatropin as a Tool in Anti-Ageing Treatment

In 1989, with the introduction of recombinant genetic engineering techniques, Growth Hormone began to be produced from bacteria such as *E. coli*, allowing for large-scale production and eliminating the risk of contamination. This enabled the use of this hormone in treating adults with Growth Hormone deficiency.

Research has shown that the lack of this hormone in adults is more common than previously thought, and its replacement may assist in the partial or complete reversal of various signs and symptoms of ageing. For this reason, Somatropin is widely used in specialised clinics around the world in the fight against the ageing process.

Areas of Ageing That Can Be Treated with Growth Hormone:

1. Skin Damage: Exposure to the sun, ultraviolet rays, and tobacco are detrimental to skin cells. Growth Hormone helps repair these cells, resulting in smoother skin with fewer wrinkles.

2. Bone Deterioration: Age-related bone loss is one of the primary causes of fractures in the elderly. Growth Hormone not only strengthens bones but may also repair damaged bone cells, offering a potential solution for the more severe form of bone degeneration known as Osteoporosis.

3. Memory Loss: Damaged brain cells are responsible for memory loss that exacerbates with age and can lead to Alzheimer’s Disease. Growth Hormone may help repair these cells, preventing mental decline associated with ageing.

4. Increased Energy and Sexual Function: Acting as a potent “aphrodisiac,” Growth Hormone can restore libido and sexual function in men. Many women using the hormone report increased sexual desire, pleasure, and the ability to have multiple orgasms, similar to the enhancement in potency observed in men. Moreover, it can help alleviate menstrual and menopausal symptoms, including vaginal dryness.

The Influence of Somatropin on Overall Health

Growth Hormone also contributes to promoting overall health, assisting in natural weight loss and muscle gain. Furthermore, it supports increased strength, maintenance of a healthy weight, and reduction of body fat, thereby slowing the ageing process. The side effects associated with the use of Somatropin as an anti-ageing treatment are rare and generally minimal, given that the dosage recommended for such effects is quite low and is continuously monitored through clinical assessments.

Physical activity becomes increasingly crucial as we age.

Maintaining a regular exercise routine, combined with a proper diet, is essential in anti-ageing medicine and is a fundamental pillar for a strong and effective immune system. As the years go by, the benefits of exercising periodically become clearer, as there is a greater tendency at this stage of life to encounter physical and chemical limitations. Therefore, the frequent practice of exercise is an indispensable attitude to preserve health and quality of life. A healthy body is our best ally in the fight against ageing and diseases, regardless of age or any physical limitations a person may have.

The positive effects of physical activity on health and well-being are widely recognised, which leads many health professionals to encourage it. Over time, people tend to lose muscle mass, their ability to utilise oxygen diminishes, joints become stiffer, mobility becomes more difficult, and metabolism slows down.

Hence, regular physical activity is crucial to:

- Prevent bone demineralisation by promoting the mobilisation of minerals present in the blood and bones and facilitating their absorption;

- Combat sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass, by improving circulation and stimulating the renewal of muscle cells;

- Avoid intestinal issues by stimulating peristaltic movements and preventing the accumulation of harmful substances that can cause inflammation and reduce nutrient absorption;

- Foster neuronal renewal in the brain and maintain healthy cognitive function.

Other benefits of regular exercise include:

- Increased metabolic rates;

- Decreased risk of heart disease;

- Improved posture;

- Reduction in body fat;

- Stress relief;

Additionally, physical activity contributes to:

- Greater energy and concentration;

- Increased strength and vitality;

- Improvement in social skills and work capacity;

- Enhanced self-esteem;

- Overall improvement in quality of life.