Age Well
We are living longer than ever before but, are we living and ageing well, and can we?
According to statistics, in 50 years’ time, the UK population will have an additional 8.2 million people over the age of 65. This increase in an ageing population means that the number of over 65’s will be equal to the current London population. This, coupled with decreasing birth rates, is set to boost the average general population age into the 40s when only a decade ago, the average age was 35.
We accept ageing as a natural part of the human life cycle, where a slowing down and degeneration of the body occurs. As we age, damage occurs at a molecular and cellular level particularly regarding lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), making it more difficult for the body to heal and regulate homeostasis. With life expectancy longer than before, it has never been more imperative to be able to care for your health.
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UK life expectancy may be beginning to slow, with 2018 figures reporting an average life expectancy of 79.6 years for men and 83.2 years for women. Recent data suggests that we can only expect to live in good health until 63. Meaning that males can expect to experience 16 years of ill health, that’s 20% of their lives. Females, who have a longer life expectancy, can expect to experience 19 years of ill health, almost a quarter of their lives. We at FunctionalDx, strongly believe that poor health should not characterise our later years.
The rate of cellular degeneration or dysfunction and at what age it begins, are areas which as clinicians, we know can be influenced, and identifying the areas that contribute to the ageing process is essential. To maintain long and healthy lives it is important to identify the main culprits of aging including consistent low-grade inflammation. This is often termed ‘inflammaging’ and is a causative factor within many ageing and degenerative disorders and identified as both a risk and an indicator of our longevity.
Likewise, identifying the effects of stress through functional blood chemistry testing is a key component in reversing aging. Stress, whether physical, psychological or oxidative, plays a huge role on aging as does the effects of diet, nutrient availability and absorption. Poor sugar management coupled with poor and out of control weight management produces advanced glycation end products known as “AGE’s”. These products crosslink to body proteins including enzymes making them unusable. Therefore, making it essential to ensure that tests identify how well sugar is handled, as well as lipid regulation, and identify inflammatory markers to assist in the determination of how the body processes are accelerating or lessening ageing.
After examining numerous scientific studies, we’ve narrowed down the optimal combination of key testing factors to assist the professional in creating and tailoring regimens for the individual to help prolong their good years of life, through accounting for stress resilience, glycation, chronic inflammation, detoxification, immune function, mitochondrial function, hormone balance and physical and mental inactivity along with nutritional status.
FunctionalDX Blood Science analysis is uniquely developed to understand the intricate interplay of the body systems and their implications on your clients’ optimal health. Helping you to reveal patterns of dysfunction – which may indicate and influence your client’s health progression and trajectory as they age.
Our sophisticated AI reporting algorithm analyses 13 body systems, 7 accessory systems, 7 macro systems nutrient systems and 14 nutrient assessments and over 40 clinical dysfunction assessments to provide the most advanced, comprehensive reporting on the market today.
Our FunctionalDX Age Well blood tests and reporting provide the modern healthcare practitioner with the ultimate tools to understand your client’s ageing status, vitality and longevity.
