Anti-aging research, fighting stress and aging for patients post-pandemic

Ultimately, anti-aging research shows curcumin may be key in helping delay onset of a number of age-related conditions…

Now that we finally seem to be seeing the light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel, we can start to get back to some of our normal routines. At the same time, however, your patients may be interested in looking at new ways to shore up their wellness, such as fighting the effects of aging due to stress in line with anti-aging research.

This is actually a wise course, as we are still not quite out of the woods. What exactly is involved with a post-pandemic anti-aging and stress-fighting routine, and how can it help your patients? Is it only beneficial for your older patients, or can all your patients benefit? Which popular supplements should your patients take as part of such a routine?

Anti-aging research: stress and aging

There is an extensive body of anti-aging research showing a link between stress and aging, even if the signs may not be visible. A 2012 article review in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry examined the effect of stress on inflammation and aging.¹

In looking at a group of similar articles on the topic, the authors suggested that long-term stress can lead to inflammation and high levels of cortisol, sometimes known as the stress hormone. Both of these, in turn, are often associated with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis, which often show up as the body ages.¹

The curcumin fountain of youth

Curcumin is probably the best known of all the anti-aging supplements on the market. As the primary active ingredient in the spice turmeric, it has been a staple in Indian cooking for centuries, as well as the centerpiece of Ayurvedic medicine.

It is thought to be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including those related to cellular aging. As the body ages, the cells stop dividing, in a process known as cellular senescence. Two recent articles discuss how curcumin activates the anti-aging proteins sirtuin and AMP-activated protein kinase to delay cellular senescence and increase longevity.

Ultimately, anti-aging research shows curcumin may be key in helping delay onset of a number of age-related conditions, such as including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic inflammation.^2,3

Collagen skin treatments

Although curcumin can slow the anti-aging process on the inside, collagen supplements can improve the outward signs of aging – most notably on the face.

Collagen is a protein that the body naturally forms to help fill out the skin over the skeletal framework. It provides the face with a firm, full youthful appearance. However, as the body ages, it will naturally lose collagen, leading to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In an effort to replace this natural collagen loss, research into collagen supplements has grown in interest over the past decade. A 2019 anti-aging research article in the journal Nutrients reported on the results from a group of 72 women, half of whom took a supplement containing collagen, while the other half served as the control group.⁴ At the end of the 12-week study, those women taking collagen reported significantly improved skin hydration, roughness, and elasticity.⁴

Stress-induced aging

Stress can prematurely age the skin as well as accelerate heart and other issues. Doctors of chiropractic working with wellness patients can also slow stress-induced aging and subsequent physical issues by encouraging patients to:

• Stretch – Stretching, movement and exercise can help maintain chiropractic adjustments as well as benefit the skin in patient’s increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Exercise releases the “feel good” chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, and stretching will make tight and uncomfortable patients sleep better at night.
• Drink (and eat) your water – As well as staying hydrated during the day, encourage patients to choose nutritious, vitamin-rich and water-dense natural foods rather than processed snacks.

Given the stress everyone has suffered through with the pandemic, it should not be surprising to see a good number of your patients seeing signs of health conditions often associated with aging, even if they are not necessarily that old. Starting them on a wellness regimen that includes anti-aging supplements can help get their systems back in proper balance and ready to face our post-pandemic future.

References

1. Lavretsky H, Newhouse PA. Stress, inflammation, and aging. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2012;20(9):729-733.
2. Bielak-Zmijewska A, Grabowska W, Ciolko A, et al. The role of curcumin in the modulation of ageing. International Journal of Molecular Science. 2019;20(5):1239. Published 2019 Mar 12.
3. Sundar Dhilip Kumar S, Houreld NN, Abrahamse H. Therapeutic potential and recent advances of curcumin in the treatment of aging-associated diseases. Molecules. 2018;23(4):835.
4. Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A collagen supplement improves skin hydration, elasticity, roughness, and density: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, blind study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494.