Program for long life, anti-aging developed in KSA

The number of people aged over 60 suffering from Alzheimer’s and other aging diseases in the world will increase by 22 percent, or 2 billion in 2050, compared with the current 605 million, according to a recent study.
Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mannan Khan, a Saudi medical consultant in plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine, said that the anti-aging medicine is based on the early detection of diseases in order to take the required steps for prevention and treatment.
Speaking on the launch of the first anti-aging program of its kind in the Kingdom and the establishment of the first international specialized medical unit in Riyadh, he said prolonging the lives of old people is centered on the use of advanced biomedical technologies focusing on the early detection of degenerative diseases associated with aging.
A fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the founder of the program, Khan stressed that there are an increasing number of people living well into their 80’s or even 90’s and there have to be some measures in place to help them live a quality life.
Underlining the aim of the program to restore youth, health and prolong life, Khan noted that low and mid-income countries will witness the fastest and largest demographic shift in future and as a result we have to be prepared to accommodate the aging population.
Talking about his anti-aging program, Khan said that it is set up to combat the epidemic of aging indicating that the program includes therapeutic steps starting with comprehensive checks and blood tests which are to be sent to Paris for analysis.
He explained that these tests are very important for the second phase of the program that deals with the prevention of expected diseases in the aged, and identifying the deficiencies. The tests will be conducted on all the organs of the body in addition to testing for mineral levels, anti-oxidants, hormonal levels and blood pressure. “Each case is treated by a special prescription dependent on the results of the tests,” he added.
The program also includes a new medical method called a compensatory hormone treatment which is designed individually for each person or patient. Khan said that the likeable diseases start developing around the age of 50, which is also called the ‘big shift period’. He said that the symptoms of this period among females is marked by the ceasing of menstruation, and in males by the slowing down of sexual activity, causing a lack of self confidence among men.
Khan summarizes the symptoms of aging in men as follows: Vascular, kinetics, rapid pulse, palpitations, headache, sweat, irritating psychological condition, tension, depression, poor concentration, muscular fatigue, spasms, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea, bladder inflation and decrease of libido.
As for women, the symptoms are hot flushes, dizziness, cold feeling in the extremities, tingling, sweating, palpitations, headache, tension, decrease of body discharge, painful intercourse, irregular menstruation, insomnia , negative social tendencies associated with a few cases of being suicidal, lack of concentration, joint pains and stomach disorders.
Regarding the pandemic of dementia, Khan said that many countries are still not prepared to deal with Alzheimer’s which affects about 44 million people globally with an expected rise of three-fold to 135 million by 2050.

“The annual global cost of treatment and health care for dementia cases exceeds 600 billion dollars representing 1 percent of the global GDP and it is expected to increase if we don’t take drastic measures and precaution programs.”
Khan said that Saudi society is globally regarded as having the most cases of diabetes and blood pressure which contribute to premature aging. He attributed this to the low level of health care and lack of primary health awareness.
Khan warned that the world witnesses a new case of Alzheimer’s every four seconds ushering in the prediction that the number of patients with this disease will hit 38 million by the end of the current year and around 115 million in 2050, noting that 60 percent of the cases are seen in the developing countries. On the other hand, the developed countries spend over $604 billion on Alzheimer affected patients annually.
“In Saudi Arabia, the people at most risk of Alzheimer’s are those above 80 representing 14 percent of the aged population. We can reduce the incidence of this and other diseases by incorporating a healthy life style and establishing more anti-aging centers and programs.
According to some recent research, maintaining a healthy mental activity throughout one’s life time especially in advanced age, helps reduce the risk of infection of the disease. Some anti-aging medicines and therapeutic services are also useful in fighting aging and related diseases,” Khan ended.