"Why do some people look as energetic as they do in their 30s even at 70, while others start looking old at 50?"

Aging is not an inevitable fate, but rather a disease that can be diagnosed early and treated with personalized care, like diabetes or high blood pressure.

A groundbreaking medical paradigm that focuses on cell speed and a report on 12 strategies for a healthy lifespan.

From DNA damage to telomere shortening, zombie cells, and stem cell exhaustion?
Now is the time to clearly diagnose aging and scientifically intervene.

《The Age of Anti-Aging》 focuses on the ‘speed of cells.’
DNA damage occurs 100,000 times a day, telomeres shorten, which determines the limits of cell division, zombie cells (SASPs) that secrete inflammatory substances, and even a decline in autophagy function? All of these changes intertwine to create a vicious cycle of aging.

This book, based on the achievements of modern life science and aging biology, goes beyond simple theory and systematically organizes 12 biological mechanisms that cause aging.
Each topic provides specific information on the causes and diagnosis of damage, dietary and supplement therapies, and the latest clinical research and medical technologies reflecting global trends in aging treatment.
Beyond simple theory, this is a complete, practical guide with practical methods to reverse aging.

The important thing is not just to increase lifespan.
By proactively intervening before cellular changes begin, we guide you on the path to extending your healthy lifespan and fundamentally changing your quality of life.
Anyone can live a long, healthy and young life.
Now is the time to move beyond delay and towards reversal.

The author, Dr. Youngjin Lee, is a leading authority in the fields of aging medicine and integrative medicine in Korea, having been engaged in medical education, treatment, and research at Yonsei University College of Medicine and CHA University for over 40 years.
He authored Korea's first textbook on "Geriatric Medicine," established a model for anti-aging and natural product treatments, and founded numerous medical societies, leading the advancement of this field.
Currently, he is providing treatment at the Green Cross iMED Integrated Medicine Center and is actively conducting research on anti-aging natural products.

《The Age of Aging Therapy》 is the most practical and reliable roadmap for scientific aging management.
It's packed with strategies that anyone, even non-experts, can immediately implement in their daily lives, so it goes beyond mere knowledge and becomes a guide for driving real change.

introduction
Today, most of the diseases that reduce our lifespan and healthspan—cancer, brain and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and degenerative neurological and musculoskeletal disorders—begin at the cellular level long before modern medical diagnostic and treatment guidelines were established.
And thanks to the intensive research over the past 20 years, we have come to understand its true nature to the point where it can be defined by a few condensed characteristics.
It involves accumulation of DNA damage and genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, accumulation of senescent cells, loss of protein homeostasis and impaired autophagy, nutrient sensing dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune senescence and stem cell exhaustion, alterations in intercellular signaling, and gut microbiota imbalance.
Abnormalities at these 11 cellular levels are disease states that are risk factors for most age-related diseases, much like high blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and are hallmarks of aging.
Now is the time to ask ourselves the following questions about aging:
Is aging simply a natural process of growing older?
Or is it a disease that can be prevented and treated?
Recent advances in science and medicine provide strong evidence that aging should be considered a disease.
Aging is not simply a phenomenon that occurs over time.


12 Key Topics for Treating Aging
Medicine and science now recognize that aging is a complex, treatable biological process: the accumulation of DNA damage and a decline in its repair capacity, telomere shortening, the expansion of senescent cells, disruption of recycling systems, and problems with intercellular communication.
Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of research papers on aging have been published, and since 2020, the number has grown at an astonishing rate each year.
This is because positive research results are emerging regarding the possibility of delaying, stopping, or reversing various aging phenomena, which were previously considered unavoidable physiological phenomena, through therapeutic intervention.
First, in this chapter, we will reorganize the characteristics of aging that have been identified over the past decade into several major themes to help readers gain a comprehensive understanding of aging.
Each of the major branches of the essential aging phenomenon is not a separate and independent phenomenon, but rather influences one another.
If one of these gets worse, the others get worse as well, but if one of these aging symptoms gets better, the others get better too.
--- p.5

Minimizing DNA damage or improving its repair can slow aging and improve disease.
Common ways to minimize DNA damage include a calorie-restricted diet, a healthy diet, sun protection, regular exercise, and taking antioxidants.
In fact, a summary of clinical studies that applied this preventive method to humans showed that DNA damage was reduced by an average of 20-30%.
If DNA damage continues to decrease in this way, it is likely to result in a slower aging process.
A more proactive approach is to strengthen our recovery systems, which become less efficient as we age.
In people who exercised regularly, DNA repair enzymes were activated by 30%, and regular consumption of plant polyphenols improved DNA damage repair rates by about 18%.
As we age, levels of NAD+ (a key enzyme involved in over 400 metabolic processes in our bodies) decline, but in mice that received supplementation, DNA repair enzymes were activated, radiation-induced DNA damage was reduced by 40%, and the average lifespan of the mice actually increased by about 20%.
In clinical studies, after administering a specific stimulant that directly activates DNA repair enzymes to 150 elderly people, repair efficiency improved by an average of 30-40%.
--- p.34

Lifestyle habits that help maintain and extend telomere length
The most powerful factor that shortens telomeres is stress.
Just looking at the study showing that women under chronic stress have telomere length shortening, on average, 10 years faster than those who aren't, shows just how quickly stress ages our cells. Specifically, chronic stress triggers inflammation and increases oxidative damage, damaging and shortening telomeres.
Chronic stress is also linked to telomere shortening, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease.
So how should we manage stress? Three stress management methods have been proven effective in protecting telomeres: meditation, exercise, and social support. I'll explain exercise separately.
--- p.68

Recommended dosages, dosage, side effects, and precautions for major herbs and pills
When taking herbs and medicines, you must be aware of the recommended dosage, dosage method, and side effects.
Please check carefully as you may need to consult a doctor.
Centella asiatica leaf tea
? Recommended dosage and directions: Add 2-3g of dried purslane leaves to 250ml of boiling water and steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink twice a day as tea.
You can add honey or lemon according to your taste.
? Side effects and precautions: If you experience drowsiness or digestive problems (heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.), stop taking the drug for 2-3 days and start again at a lower dose.
If allergic symptoms appear, stop taking the medication immediately and, if severe, visit a hospital.
If you are taking anticoagulants or anti-thrombotic medications, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor.
Although rare, liver dysfunction can occur, so consult your doctor if you have liver disease.
If you are taking anticoagulants, antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medications, we recommend that you consult with your doctor before taking them.
--- p.133

Potential applications in future aging treatments
Effective and safe senolytic therapies could revolutionize the treatment of age-related diseases.
This requires an integrated approach using the latest technologies.
For example, an integrative approach combining senolytic drugs with other anti-aging therapies, including NAD+ supplements, is likely to be clinically viable.
If these efforts bear fruit, it would mark a revolutionary turning point in the treatment of diseases caused by aging cells.
Senolytics targeting senescent cells are crucial because, unlike conventional treatments that are applied after the onset of disease, they address the fundamental biological causes of aging.
Therefore, it could be a groundbreaking turning point in the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Moreover, senolytics have the potential to contribute not only to extending lifespan but also to increasing healthy lifespan, potentially providing a solution to the growing frail elderly population worldwide.
--- p.137

Calorie Restriction-Mimetics: Pills That Work Likely Without Fasting or Dieting
So, what kinds of pills work to counteract the effects of dietary restriction? These drugs work by activating the same cellular survival systems activated by dietary restriction.
Representative pills expected to be applied clinically in the future include metformin, rapamycin, nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide, resveratrol, fisetin, and quercetin, among other natural products.
Many clinical trials are still ongoing, and new compounds are being developed every year.
But remember, these drugs are just tools and not a panacea.
It is most effective when used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle habits such as a balanced diet, diet, regular exercise, sleep, and stress management, as mentioned previously.
Now, let's take a closer look at some of the promising pills in this field.
--- p.179

Epi-Drug: A drug that turns back the epigenetic clock to fight aging and cancer
How can we control these changes? Interestingly, scientists are reporting the potential to slow or reverse aging and treat diseases through "epigenetic cellular reprogramming," which involves regulating epigenetic changes to reverse or reset them.
Among the 'epigenetic cell reprogramming' methods, drugs used for anti-aging or cancer treatment are called epi-drugs.
Epi is a combination of Epi from Epigenetic and drug.
There are three reasons why this drug is important:
First, it promotes healthy aging. Various enzymes are responsible for epigenetic changes in DNA, adding various decorations like methyl and acetyl groups.
Therefore, drugs that regulate these enzymes are likely to be drugs that can regulate epigenetic changes in aging.
Second, it is to prevent and treat diseases.
It can help prevent the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Third, it can be used in regenerative medicine to restore damaged tissues or organs.
--- pp.226-227

Anti-aging and disease treatment using mitochondrial transplantation
In recent years, autologous mitochondrial transplantation has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy, particularly in the treatment of metabolic, neurological, and cardiac diseases.
When mitochondria isolated from healthy rabbit heart tissue using techniques such as cell disruption and centrifugation were injected into the ischemic myocardial area, myocardial necrosis was significantly reduced and cardiac function was significantly improved.
In a porcine model, both single and serial transplantation of autologous mitochondria resulted in a significant reduction in myocardial infarction size.
A 2023 study reported that immediate mitochondrial transplantation after cardiac arrest significantly improved survival rates.
In addition to improving the heart, the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial transplantation has been confirmed in other organs as well.
Injection of mitochondria into a fatty liver disease model restored hepatocyte function, and lung function also improved in a lung disease model.
--- p.287

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder
A 2020 report found that supplementation with Lactobacillus rhammosus or Lactobacillus plantarum in infancy can reduce the risk of developing the disease and improve the quality of life of patients.
Additionally, Bifidobacterium bifidus has been shown to help improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through a mechanism that addresses gut microbiota imbalance.
Currently, clinical trials are underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GABA-producing Lactobacillus in patients with epilepsy, and a herbal treatment combining four strains of probiotics for the treatment of schizophrenia and epilepsy is also being tested.
--- p.503

What is brain plasticity?
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change structurally and functionally by adapting to new stimuli.
In the past, it was thought that brain development was active only during childhood and became fixed after adulthood, but many studies have proven that brain plasticity continues throughout life.
Even in adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 60, brain plasticity can be reduced by stress, lack of sleep, and chronic inflammation, but new stimuli still allow brain cells to form new connections and restructure neural networks.
Therefore, even after middle age, if you continue to experience and learn new things, your brain will continue to enrich its neural network and become a large vessel with good tolerance and flexibility.
However, a brain that does not accept new things and does not learn will no longer create new neural networks, and will become a brain that lacks tolerance and insists that only its own thoughts are correct.
--- p.521

Among the organs of our body, the brain is a very precious organ.
Even though the number of brain neurons decreases with age, the special characteristic of plasticity allows the neural network to grow more abundantly than when we were younger.
The brain is an organ that grows by feeding on stimulation.
Stimuli that positively change the brain enter the brain through visual, auditory, and somatosensory neural pathways, and the brain processes these and has the power to change until death.
And this ability is something that everyone has equally.
Whether I live with a healthy brain or not depends not on things like academic background or financial ability, but on whether I live with my own goals.
--- p.531

First, think about your own reasons for living a long and healthy life.
If you can't think of anything, try making at least one small, simple goal to work towards for the rest of your life, starting now.
Building on that foundation of sleep, exercise, stress management, and a balanced diet, I hope you'll begin practicing the longevity methods introduced in this book, one by one, slowly but steadily, under the guidance of an expert, starting with the ones that best suit you.
This book is the starting point of a journey beyond 'inevitable aging' to 'reversible aging.'
I hope that this book can make a small contribution as a companion on that journey.
Extending healthy lifespan is ultimately the wisest choice to preserve quality and dignity in life, and it is the only power that allows me to lead my life in my own way until the end.

--- p.534