For the past three decades, I have seen a dramatic increase in cancer and other degenerative diseases in the USA and Europe. In particular, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive disorders, and other physical disabilities in seniors from 60 years up. 86% of Americans suffer from degenerative disease and cognitive disorders. This is not something to be proud of for a country that is supposed to be at the leading edge in science and medicine.
While lifespan has increased in Western countries, it does not coincide with improvements in health or brain function. On the contrary, the situation is deteriorating. For example, in France, 3 million seniors over 60 years are in a position of extreme dependence. A high percentage who live in their homes are disabled and unable to walk, and the situation is not better for retirement homes.
In the USA, Alzheimer’s affects approximately 5.5 million people. According to the WHO, 65% of women above 60 years are affected by Alzheimer’s, and estimated to increase four-fold. According to the CDC, deaths from 1999 to 2014 increased by 55% and are estimated to worsen in the years ahead. Every year more than $100 billion are spent on health care for Alzheimer’s alone. Worldwide, there are about 50 million cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
Over the past decades, I have observed how individuals prematurely age and develop cognitive disorders long before the chronological age.
Aging is a normal process that has always been of interest to biologists. Each person ages differently according to various factors, genetics, lifestyle, and diet. The human body has several defense mechanisms against disease and aging. For example, there is the process of apoptosis that destroys abnormal stressed cells and prevents bad cells from becoming cancer cells. There is also an endogenous antioxidant defense system to prevent free radical damage. It includes the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione. SOD is our most important antioxidant. The stronger the SOD activity, the longer the life span is. SOD is a super enzyme and the most important of the human oxidative defense systems. People who have less production of SOD are more susceptible to age faster. Today, the decreasing activity of SOD can start at 40 years of age or even younger and be responsible for many degenerative diseases, including cancer and premature aging. Human lifespan is greatly associated with SOD enzyme activity.
Accumulation and degradation of oxidized proteins and cellular membrane proteins, loss of apoptosis, an excessive free radical activity that damages brain neurons, and cell communication slowly degrade life and memory. Plus, they are associated with aging and often lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Aging also means a decline in physical activity and function of the senses, such as hearing, vision, smell, taste, and touch. Plus, a breakdown in muscle mass, blood vessels, and skin (wrinkled skin). There is also a diminished capacity of the lungs to breathe and utilize oxygen.
Aging, Health, and Longevity
By Professor Serge Jurasunas MD (hc) ND, MD (Hom)
Specialist in biological medicine, molecular medicine,
nutrition and iridology.