HEALTHY AGING

AN ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE RESOURCE GUIDE

From the Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.

Contents:

  Introduction
   Books
 Journals
 Research Centers
 Professional Organizations
 Self-Help and Referral Organizations
  Treatment Centers
   Web Resources

INTRODUCTION

The resources contained in this guide relate to alternative and complementary approaches to healthy aging, and are provided solely for information purposes.  They have been carefully categorized and factually described to facilitate your own research, and will lead you to many more resources.   Some key conventional medicine research resources have been included to provide basic information on the process of aging. 

In a day and age when life expectancy continually increases, it is important that the quality and not simply the length of life keep improving. Never before have so many people lived for so long.  In this past century, women have increased their life expectancy by 71%, while men's life expectancy has increased by 66%.   Today there are 35 million Americans age 65 and older, and the fastest growing segment of the population is age 85 years and older.  Accompanying this increase in longevity are a variety of health issues, from wrinkles to memory loss, from increased body fat to decreased hearing and vision.  The aging of the population presents both a challenge and an opportunity for alternative and complementary medicine research to be applied to the development of lifestyle modifications and treatment modalities to maximize longevity.

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BOOKS  

AUTHORITATIVE RESEARCH RESOURCES

Deepak Chopra, M.D. Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old Three Rivers, 1998 Chopra builds an authoritative base using research to show how the healing power of the mind-body connection can retain vitality, creativity, memory, and self-esteem through the aging process.

Ken Dychtwald Healthy Aging: Challenges and Solutions Aspen Publishers, 1999 Presents current research about the future of healthy aging. Offers recommendations on how to prevent a crisis in health care.

Hans J. Kugler Tripping the Clock: A Practical Guide to Anti-Aging and Rejuvenation Health Quest Publications, 1993 Well-documented, scientific facts, form this practical guide to anti-aging and rejuvenation. Covers health practices, supernutrition, anti-aging supplementation, drugs, weight loss, youth surgery, body shaping and reversing several aspects of aging, and more.

Dennis McCullough, MD My Mother, Your Mother HarperCollins Publishers, 2008 Based on his own practice, geriatrician, Dennis McCullough advocates careful, anticipatory watchfulness in elder care to improve the quality of elders' extended lifespans - an approach he refers to as "Slow Medicine".

Marie-Francoise Shultz-Aellen Aging and Human Longevity Springer Verlag, 1997 A review of recent data on the phenomenon of aging, that discusses the mechanisms of aging at the cellular level and the consequences of tissue and system aging. Considers medical, psychological, and social interventions, as well as preventative measures

CASE STUDIES/OBSERVATIONAL DATA

Bob Flaws Chinese Secrets of Health and Longevity(Audio Cassete version) Sounds True, Inc., 2000 The Chinese philosophy "xian xue" - "the science of longevity," illustrates how living longer and having more energy is as easy as moving, breathing, and eating. Flaws discusses how to use "chi" for self-healing, easy relaxation techniques, "chi kung" exercises to gently "unblock" and energize the entire body, and more.

Barry Sears, Ph.D. The Anti-aging Zone Harper Collins Publishing, 1998 Sears presents a lifestyle plan including diet, meditation, exercise, and intake of supplements and herbs as an educational guide to preventing mental and physical health problems associated with aging.

Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program That Improves Your Mind and Memory Warner Books, 1999 Contains a four-part program to help people overcome the undesirable effects of normal brain "aging," including nutritional, stress-relieving, pharmacological, and mind-body exercise therapies.

Elizabeth Somer Age-proof Your Body: Your Complete Guide to Lifelong Vitality Quill, 1999 As a nutritionist, Somer provides a guide to what science knows and how to use that knowledge to age gracefully and energetically. While the focus in on very specific ways to eat better, there is also good information on exercise and lifestyle choices for the purpose of heading off age-related diseases and dysfunctions.

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JOURNALS

Gerontology
http://www.karger.com/journals/ger/ger_jh.htm
This journal combines experimental contributions from diverse medical, biological and behavioral disciplines to provide a primary source of high-quality papers covering all aspects of aging. Recent research on the clinical problems of aging and the practical applications of laboratory results is also included to support the fundamental goals of extending active life and enhancing its quality.

Journal of Adult Development and Aging: Theory and Research
http://www.uncg.edu/ced/jada/
The official journal of the Association of Adult Development and Aging (AADA) that focuses on all aspects of adult development and aging, with a focus on implications for counselors and helping professionals.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
http://www.amgeriatrics.com/
As the official journal of the American Geriatrics Society, this journal includes topics on aging and disease, practical solutions to common health problems, and updates on relevant topics.

Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine
http://www.worldhealth.net/journal/journal1.html
A reference guide to the developments in the field of clinical practice, basic science, economic and practice trends, new products and drug therapies and exercise, to maximally retard the aging process.

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RESEARCH CENTERS

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
http://www.nih.gov/nia/
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: (301) 496-1752
The NIA is one of the institutes of the National Institutes of Health and provides leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.

Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Research in Aging and Women's Health
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal/Aging.html
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Columbia University
College of Physicians and Surgeons
630 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
This center evaluates the dietary and herbal treatments in postmenopausal women and other CAM modalities.  Its interdisciplinary research program targets significant health problems of aging, and conducts the timely education and training of future CAM researchers.

National Aging Research Institute Incorporated (NARI)
http://www.mednwh.unimelb.edu.au/
PO Box 31
Parkville VIC 3052
Australia
Phone: +61 3 9389 7148
Fax: +61 3 9387 4030
Email: info@nari.unimelb.edu.au
NARI conducts research on all aspects of the biology of aging, clinical care and health services, and health needs of the aged.

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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Administration on Aging (AoA)
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/
330 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
Toll Free: (800) 677-1116
Phone:  (202) 619-7501
Fax: (202) 260-1012
Email: aoainfo@aoa.gov
The AoA develops and supports comprehensive in-home and community services that create opportunities for active older persons and meet the needs of older persons at risk of losing their independence.  Visit the AoA web site for comprehensive information for older persons and their families, practitioners and other professionals, and researchers and students.

American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
http://www.worldhealth.net/
1341 West Fullerton, Suite 111
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 528-4333
Fax: (773) 528-5390
Email: webadmin@worldhealth.net
This organization was formed to expand the knowledge of anti-aging medicine to the medical world.  It regularly publishes material about the use of anti-aging nutrients, drugs and other practices that may benefit humankind by slowing, reversing, and eventually stopping the aging process. 

AARP
http://www.aarp.org/indexes/health.html
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
Phone: (800) 424-3410
Email: member@aarp.org
The AARP is the nation's largest organization of midlife and older persons, and focuses on information and education, community service, legislative, judicial and consumer advocacy, and member services.  This site has information on alternative medicine resources, and insurance coverage and cost-effectiveness of alternative medicine.

National Council on Aging (NCOA)
http://www.ncoa.org/about/contact_us.htm
409 Third St., SW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 479-1200
Fax: (202) 479-0735
Email: info@ncoa.org
The NCOA is an association of organizations and professionals dedicated to promoting the dignity, self-determination, well-being, and contributions of older persons.

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SELF-HELP & REFERRAL ORGANIZATIONS

International College of Advanced Longevity Medicine (InCALM)
http://www.incalm.com/
Email: drgary@netzone.com
Created to provide education, training and certification in the field of advanced anti-aging/longevity medicine for all health professionals.

National Center on Women and Aging
http://www.heller.brandeis.edu/national/ind.html
Heller Graduate School
MS 035
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 02454-9110
Toll Free: (800) 929-1995
Phone: (781) 736-3866
Fax: (781) 736-3865
Email: NATWOMCTR@brandeis.edu
This organization focuses national attention on the special problems of women as they age, develops solutions and strategies for dealing with these problems, and reaches out to women and organizations across the country, promoting the changes necessary to improve older women's problems.

The Resource Directory for Older People
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/resource.html
The Resource Directory for Older People is intended to serve a wide audience including older people and their families and others with an interest in the field of aging. The directory contains names, addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers of organizations which provide information and other resources on matters relevant to the needs of older persons.

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Center for Healthy Aging
Headquarters
http://home.earthlink.net/~monikawhite/
2125 Arizona Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: (310) 576-2550
Fax: (310) 453-8485
Email: info@cha.usa.com
    and
Ken Edwards Center
1527 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 576-2550
Fax: (310) 576-2499
The above two centers are sites of the Center for Healthy Aging, which is a nonprofit agency that provides and promotes progressive health and human services programs to enhance healthy aging.

New York Memory and Healthy Aging Services
http://www.nymemory.org/devig/ayprog.html
Phone: (212) 517-6881
Email: info@nymemory.org
This center offers a healthy aging program and a holistic anti-aging program, using ancient Indic (Tibetan and Ayurvedic) and behavioral and life-style changes.

See also the Resource Guide on Integrative Treatment Centers

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WEB RESOURCES

Promotional and commercial sites are not included in this listing unless they provide significant impartial information resources.

HealthGate - Aging and Health
http://www3.healthgate.com/aginghealth/index.asp
This site contains research briefs, descriptions and articles on age-related health conditions and issues.

HealthWeb - Geriatrics and Gerontology
http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/health/hw/ger/gg_reskd.html
Created by HealthWeb and the University of Illinois at Chigcago, this site offers several categorized links for research and health issues in older persons.

International Academy of Alternative and Anti-Aging Medicine
http://www.gvi.com/gviWeb/IAAM/default.html
This site has links to anti-aging/alternative medicine news and updates.

Novartis Foundation for Gerontological Research
http://www.HealthandAge.com/
An educational web center to promote interaction between the public and healthcare professionals.

Sites on Aging
http://monticello.avenue.org/Community/Agencies/JABA/sites.html
The Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) provides the care, planning and services essential for persons to remain home and to stay active and productive.  This site is JABA's compilation of general, federal government, health and research web sites that pertain to older people and their issues.

WebMD - Healthy Seniors
http://my.webmd.com/living_better/age
Click on Healthy Seniors Archives to access articles on healthy aging.

World Health Network
http://www.worldhealth.net/news.html#Memory
This site contains categorized news about anti-aging and longevity health issues, and is maintained by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. 

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