Anti-aging medicine. What makes it different from geriatrics?

Overview

The growth in popularity of so-called "anti-aging" medicine challenges physicians to examine their attitudes about aging. Does one define aging as a predisposition to pathology or as part of the life cycle? Is longevity without the chronic diseases associated with aging a realistic goal? Anti-aging modalities being prescribed by some practitioners include hormone replacement therapies, vitamin and mineral supplements, diet, and exercise. Although diet, exercise, and some vitamin and mineral supplements are well-recognized as preventive measures, unproven hormone, mega-vitamin, and herbal therapies are controversial. Both the patient and the physician bring biases and values to the discussion of anti-aging medicine, and that combination will influence the treatment decisions.