Tag Archives: longevity

What to Expect at the 2020: Medicine Revolutionized | Longevity, Aging, and Immuno Competency Event

August 14, 2020

Our latest online virtual conference 2020: Medicine Revolutionized | Longevity, Aging and Immuno Competency (LAIC) is taking place next week, August 21 & 22. This revelatory event will connect healthcare professionals with the latest clinical education to support the current and changing needs of patients and clinicians alike. At our novel educational event, world-renowned faculty members will provide a strategic clinical roadmap for practitioners looking to improve their patients’ health spans, relieve unwanted symptoms of aging, and boost their immune competency.

With an emphasis on participant engagement, live-streamed sessions will enable attendees to interact directly with leading experts in the industry throughout the duration of the conference; they will be able to ask questions and receive answers from faculty members in real-time. Using an interactive, easy-to-navigate virtual format, our integrative educational conference will connect clinicians from across the globe with leading healthcare experts in the setting of their choosing to deliver critical, strategic principles of anti-aging and integrative medicine.

The Latest Clinical Topics in Integrative Medicine

Neuroresiliency and Issues

During the first session of the LAIC event, experts will lead participants through the most clinically current and relevant topics within the field of neuro resiliency including neuroinflammation and its effects on neurodegeneration, an in-depth look at the TBI-neuro-immune axis stressor, as well as cellular responses to stress and their connection to chronic disease. As the final component, the session will explore a comprehensive approach to psychiatric illness as tied to neurological issues. 

Endocrine, Hormonal Effects on Immune System 

The second session of day 1 will cover the wide-ranging effects of hormones on the immune system, including the association between the endothelial glycocalyx and vascular health, the impact of immune factors on cardiovascular disease in female patients, as well as the role of hormones in cognition. Finally, the session will end with a comprehensive look at the role of sex hormones and autoimmunity to conclude the first day of the LAIC event.

Immune System Restoration 

Day 2 of the LAIC event will primarily focus on immune system restoration, covering subjects ranging from current concepts in mast cell activation syndrome to the role of cannabinoids in adaptive immunomodulation. World-renowned experts in the field will also delve into the transcriptomics of inflammation, updates in information medicine for the 21st century, the miracle molecule phosphatidylcholine and its role in cell membrane repair and rejuvenation, as well as the benefits of low dose naltrexone. Later on in the day, our faculty will discuss immunoregulatory peptides as well as other immunomodulatory natural compounds to conclude the Immune System Restoration session.

Speaker Spotlight

Andrew Heyman, MD, MHSA 

Internationally recognized expert in Integrative Medicine, Dr. Andrew Heyman is the current Program Director of Integrative and Metabolic Medicine at The George Washington University. Prior to this position, he worked as an administrator for the University of Michigan Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Center, where he managed a $7 million NIH grant to research alternative therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Heyman’s research efforts focus on the stress response and neuroendocrinology, cardiometabolic disease, men’s health, and clinical outcome research methodologies. He is clinically active as the owner of a four-physician integrative medicine practice at the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness and serves as the President of Integrative Health Resources, a group of clinical experts that consults to physicians, health systems, and public health professionals seeking to develop targeted wellness, lifestyle, and nutrition programs. Dr. Heyman’s teaching method is  deeply rooted in scientific evidence, grounded in clinical reality, and readily accessible to both new learners and seasoned practitioners. 

Sahar Swidan, PharmD, BCPS 

Executive Director of Professional Development and Compliance for Slyngshot Health, Dr. Sahar Swidan also serves as President and CEO of Pharmacy Solutions in Ann Arbor, Michigan and as an adjunct professor at George Washington University, Wayne State, and Chicago State University. Before receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Dr. Swidan served as Director of Pharmacy at Chelsea Community Hospital. She is a board-certified advanced fellow in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. In addition, Dr. Swidan is a world-renowned speaker on pain management, headaches, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Swidan has published several chapters, articles, and patient education materials in general pain management and personalized medicine and brings key insight into areas of drug-related muscular pain and sarcopenia as well as the effects of hormones on the musculoskeletal system.

What Clinicians Can Expect

Clinicians attending the LAIC event can expect to obtain the most clinically current, relevant, and applicable knowledge in the field of integrative medicine. At the same time, participants will be learning revolutionary strategies targeted at promoting sustained health in the current environment and will retain access to a myriad of invaluable clinical resources for long-term learning.

Access to the Latest Clinical Education in Integrative Medicine

Participants will examine the most recent results from clinical research and unpack the most clinically relevant and valuable medical knowledge available. The LAIC event will cover a range of topics pertaining to longevity and healthy aging, ranging from neuroinflammation to immune system restoration techniques, giving attendees a comprehensive and extensive overview of the latest clinical education in integrative medicine.

1 Year of Online Access

After the conference, participants will still be able to access the entirety of the event – including session recordings, resources, and more – for an entire year to support long-term success.

Direct Engagement with World-Renowned Faculty

During the LAIC virtual event, participants will have the opportunity to interact with and learn directly from world-renowned leaders in the field via an interactive online chat. Attendees will be able to ask questions and receive expert answers in real-time throughout the conference.

Invaluable Resources for Your Practice

The LAIC conference will provide a wide variety of clinical resources, tools, and services while also directly connecting attendees with exhibitors through a live online chat as part of the Virtual Exhibit Hall. Attendees will be able to explore exhibitor booths virtually via the digital floor plan; they will be able to click booths for more information and links to diverse exhibitor materials.

Clinicians looking to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the latest clinical knowledge, advancements, and approaches to integrative medicine are invited to join other leading practitioners, researchers, and educators at the virtual Longevity, Aging, and Immuno Competency conference. There are a few spots left for our upcoming virtual experience, sign up here today to attend.

Reversing Age-Related Impairment and Immunity

July 31, 2020

While the average life-expectancy for humans continues to increase, a longer life span has been tied to an uptick in age-related disease and impairment across the globe. As a result of a declining immune system, the growing elderly population is more prone to infectious diseases – including influenza and COVID-19. Additionally, this group is commonly affected by age-related frailty, which has a significant negative impact on quality of life. The high level of care and involvement required to maintain the health of these patients has the potential to bear a growing burden on the healthcare system which is part of the reason underlying research efforts in the field of human longevity.

The current body of knowledge suggests the role of chronic low-grade inflammation in the biological aging process and development of age-related diseases; scientific evidence implicates that the presence of inflammation in the body accelerates aging. Hoping to uncover more information about additional factors that may contribute to an accelerated process and potential methods of reversing them, a team of researchers from the Department for BioMedical Research at the University of Bern conducted a study with findings published in Nature Metabolism.

Age-Related Frailty and Immunity

Under Bernese guidance, Dr. Mario Noti and Dr. Alexander Eggel aimed to identify new approaches to improving health-span in an ever-increasing aging population by focusing on adipose tissue eosinophils (ATEs) present in humans and mice. These immune cells found in visceral adipose tissue, otherwise known as belly fat, play an essential role in regulating inflammation and could be used to reverse aging processes; these cells are important in the control of obesity-related inflammation and metabolic disease as they are responsible for maintaining local immune homeostasis. Increasing age is tied to a decrease in eosinophils in adipose tissue and an increase in pro-inflammatory macrophages – turning belly fat into a source of pro-inflammatory activity.

Role of Eosinophils in Chronic Inflammation

The study’s authors demonstrated that visceral adipose tissue contributed to the development of chronic low-grade inflammation. They found that ATEs undergo major age-related changes in distribution and function associated with impaired adipose tissue homeostasis and systemic low-grade inflammation in human subjects as well as mice. However, exposure to a young systemic environment  was able to partially restore ATE distribution in aged subjects by reducing adipose tissue inflammation.

“In different experimental approaches, we were able to show that transfers of eosinophils from young mice into aged recipients resolved not only local but also systemic low-grade inflammation,” the researchers told ScienceDaily. ”In these experiments, we observed that transferred eosinophils were selectively homing into adipose tissue.”

Using an adoptive transfer or eosinophils from young mice to aged subjects, researchers were able to restore ATE distribution and sufficiently mitigate age-related local and systemic low-grade inflammation. As a result of the transfer, youthful systemic environments were restored and systemic rejuvenation took place in aged mice. Changes were both physical – assessed by endurance and grip strength tests – and immune-related – manifested in improved vaccination responses.

Dr. Noti and Dr. Eggel’s findings support the critical function of adipose tissue as a source contributing to accelerated aging and uncover the new role of eosinophils in sustaining adipose tissue homeostasis and thus, promoting healthy aging.

Because the age-related changes in adipose immune cell distribution were confirmed in human subjects, the latest study may have significant positive implications for the anti-aging medicine field when translated into clinical practice. Age-related frailty and immune decline may be halted and potentially even reversed as a result of this novel cell-based therapeutic approach.

“Our results indicate that the biological processes of aging and the associated functional impairments are more plastic than previously assumed,” Dr. Noti stated. “A future direction of our research will be to now leverage the gained knowledge for the establishment of targeted therapeutic approaches to promote and sustain healthy aging in humans,” his research partner Dr. Eggel concluded.

 

The Biggest Wellness Trends of 2020

March 18, 2020

Last year, the rise of cannabidiol (CBD), intermittent fasting, meditation, and many other health and wellness trends dominated the $4 trillion global wellness industry. As this segment of the market continues to grow rapidly, technologic advances, emerging clinical findings, and shifting priorities are likely to influence burgeoning wellness trends for the coming year. Recently, experts from across the world gathered to forecast the biggest health trends that will take over the global wellness industry in 2020 as part of the Global Wellness Summit (GWS).

Alongside a focus on fixing disrupted circadian rhythms and mental health-promoting devices, the most significant projected trends for the forthcoming year are outlined below:

Circadian Health Optimization

According to one of the world’s leading experts on circadian health and associate professor of medicine at Harvard University Dr. Steven Lockley: “The absolute key to healthy sleep and circadian rhythms is stable, regularly-timed daily light and dark exposure—our natural daily time cues.”

Today, humans have incredibly disrupted circadian rhythms as a result of increased screen time and travel, rising stress levels, and a 24/7 culture. Current research suggests that circadian rhythms influence a variety of bodily functions ranging from hormonal fluctuations to body temperature regulation. Most importantly, they can significantly influence sleep patterns, impacting productivity and health.

As part of the solution, the concept of circadian rhythm optimization centers around adjusting the daily schedule, dietary patterns, and environmental cues to sync up with the body’s internal clock. Experts at the Global Wellness Summit predict an increased amount of people shifting their work schedules in accordance with their chronotypes, which The Sleep Foundation describes as the natural pattern by which people sleep and wake best, in an effort to optimize performance and productivity.

“Given that most of our body systems express circadian rhythms, ensuring proper alignment of our internal circadian clocks,” Dr. Lockley further explains, “starting with the management of lighting, will have major impacts on human health.”

Mental Health Technology 

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that over 42% of 46.6 million adults with mental illness in the United States received mental health treatment in 2017. In addition, the growing patient base of Millennials is more likely to address mental health concerns than previous generations, with about 70% saying they feel comfortable seeking help. Wellness technology companies have begun to capitalize on this increased acceptance and technological advancements by developing digital therapeutic products and services.

Tech-savvy individuals are increasingly using virtual therapy apps – such as TalkSpace and BetterHelp – and digital support groups to combat modern-day issues including burnout, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The behavioral health software market is now projected to reach $2.31 billion by 2022 and as we shift toward a more holistic approach to wellbeing, will likely continue growing.

As part of this rising trend, mental wellness wearables are growing in popularity with the introduction of meditation headsets that measure heart and breathing rates and wearable biosensors that monitor physiological signals throughout the day. These devices aim to improve stress levels, sleep patterns, and daily habits based on biologic metrics directly obtained throughout the day. For example, Sentio Solutions recently announced a new product, Feel, which is an emotion-sensing wristband with integrated biosensors which measure users’ physiological signals. Paired with an accompanying cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) app, it aims to help those suffering from anxiety and depression by offering on-demand support.

However, many of these technologies are still in the early stages of clinical trials and require further investigation before they can be released.

Japanese Wellness 

In 2017, Japan had the largest per capita ratio of centenarians in the world with 67,824 people aged 100 and above. The country is known for the longevity of its population, with up to 50% of Japanese citizens born in 2007 expected to reach the age of 107. Japanese culture promotes ways to ensure long, fulfilled lives with a growing emphasis on a sense of community and work-life balance. As a result, the world is turning to Japan for longevity tips leading to the popularization of “J-wellness”, or Japanese-inspired wellness.

The practice prioritizes connecting to nature, including forest bathing which can have a beneficial effect on both mental and physical health by reducing blood pressure, stress hormones, anxiety, and depression levels. In addition, Japanese government officials emphasize social community wellness through policy measures and innovations tailored to aging societies. This includes neighborhood facilities designed for generational mingling and stress assessment programs conducted to improve work-life balance and emotional wellbeing.

Fertility Healthcare

The growing de-stigmatization of infertility and reproductive health has opened the dialogue and increased awareness of these prevalent issues, encouraging more companies to offer fertility treatments – such as in-vitro fertilization and egg freezing- as benefits to their employees. Fertility healthcare is projected to rise to the top of wellness trends to support the 12 out of 100 couples in the United State struggling to become pregnant, per data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Current fertility benefits do not cover all procedures and reproductive assistance technologies tend to be expensive with a single round of IVF averaging above $20,000. According to the GWS report, fertility clinics are forecasted to democratize and simplify access to care, alongside innovative fertility-focused wearable technology and smartphone apps that help educate individuals and monitor important fertility metrics. Furthermore, a growing number of fertility start-ups such as KindBody, which received $10 million in investor funding last year, are beginning to infiltrate the space. Current data indicate that the femtech sector could reach a market size of $50 billion within the next five years.

Continuous research initiatives and emerging technological advancements are spurring the global wellness industry at a 12.8% compound annual growth rate. In 2020, the wellness economy will be more accessible to the average consumer than ever before, making the above trends increasingly relevant in the practice setting. Physicians should be equipped with the latest clinical knowledge to better educate patients on the potential risks and benefits of these emerging solutions and ensure their health and safety.