H-SCAN Results of a Member of Our Staff

TEST	SCORE	PERCENTILE
1. Auditory reaction time, seconds	.131	87
2. Highest audible pitch, kHz	12.6	79
3. Vibrotactile sensitivity, dB	34	47
4. Visual reaction time, seconds	.204	60
5. Muscle movement time, seconds	.091	92
6. Lung: forced vital capacity, liters	6.1	90
7. Lung: forced expiratory volume,1 sec-liters	4.85	88
8. Visual react time with decision, seconds	.251	50
9. Muscle movement time with decision, seconds	0.53	97
10. Memory, length of sequence 16 is a perfect score, but for some reason the results return 96 instead of 99 percentile for a perfect score on this test.	16	96
11. Alternate button tapping, seconds	12.8	98
12. Visual accomodation, diopters	7.9	96

Chronological Age: 51
Test Age based on combination of scores: 33

This H-SCAN Test was performed in 1999 at Anti-Ageing South Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, by Dr. Christiaan Geldenhuys, who can be contacted by emailing us.

Age: 53 H-Scan Physical Age: 33 at Age 51

Hair: 99% black Bald Spot: no

Reading glasses?: no Medication: none

To give you an idea of what is possible, we offer the report below from a member of our staff. He and some of his relatives have experienced unusually slow aging and/or unusual longevity. Developments in science, medicine and genetics research (human genome project, etc) are moving so fast that anyone who is alive today cannot be sure how long he or she will live. Even older people might find their lives suddenly extended by new breakthroughs.

A Member of MyHealthSpan staff

Photos taken on September 6, 2001. No coloring or cosmetics of any kind applied to hair or skin. Photographs not edited. Date of birth is Feb 16, 1948.

Possible reasons for slow aging
Until September 4, 2000, I did not use any antiaging products. Therefore, the factors affecting my aging are mostly genes or lifestyle, so far. Actually, I have not determined with certainty which of these two factors applies to any of the attributes below or the results of the H-SCAN test. I became aware of antiaging science in 1998. Before that, I lived a lifestyle that coincidentally conformed with many, but not all of the recommendations of antiaging medicine. Now I try harder to follow more of the recommendations more precisely, but I still do not do everything on the lifestyle list on this site. As I learn more about how genetics and lifestyle have contributed to my own experience, I will update this page with that information. I am looking for studies that I can join so that some of the reasons for my results can be determined and contributed to the body of knowledge in antiaging science. Personally, I am not interested in living forever. I believe that our lives are only part of a larger reality. However, all of us would desire to remain healthy for as much of our lives as possible, whatever the length of the life. That is the most immediate goal of antiaging science and the focus of this health span site.

Medication
Since I have already gotten good results with lifestyle, and perhaps genetics, I have not considered personally using any of the medications listed on the Antiaging Hormones page. However, I am keeping an open mind for the future, depending upon how my aging experience progresses. One option that I began on September 4, 2000 is a regimen for stimulating the release of growth hormone through natural means, described in Dr. Ron Klatz's book Grow Young With HGH. See nutritional supplements below.

Nutritional Supplements
From 1998 to 2000, the supplements that I have used each morning have been 1 Multivitamin containing minerals, one 500 mg tablet of Vitamin C and one 5mg tablet of folic acid. Before that I took only a multivitiamin with minerals every day from 1994 to 1998. Aside from that I have nearly always eaten the typical balanced diet recommended since the childhood of baby boomers: meat, chicken or fish and both green and starchy vegetables with every meal. In August, 2000 I decided that I would pursue the idea of naturally stimulating release of human growth hormone. (HGH)

I went to an antiaging doctor to get blood tests to determine my hormone levels. Even though hormones like DHEA and Melatonin and HGH stimulating amino acids are available over the counter, it is wise to first go to a doctor to determine your hormone levels. Then the doctor can recommend what amounts of supplements that you really need. The IGF-1 Saliva Test Kit is also useful in reducing some trips to the doctor later, or as a substitute for doctor's visits when time and cost are a factor.

My doctor recommended the following which I began taking everyday on September 4, 2000: Multivitamin, 1000 mg of Vitamin C, 500 mg of Vitamin E, 5 mg of Folic Acid, Salmon Oil, Glutamine and DHEA. After one month, I substituted Solal HGH Secretagogue for the Glutamine. Both of these I took at bedtime on an empty stomach, and the rest I took in the morning, except the DHEA which I also took at night. On April 16, 2001, I discontinued the DHEA until I have time to find enough scientific data to satisfy me that it will be useful. From April 23, 2001, I am using Nujuvenis HGH Stimulator. I travel between the USA and South Africa, as well as other places, so I use the product that is available in both places. The nutrients in the regimen ensure that I never lack anything that is needed to optimize tissue repair and maintenance.

Because my aging has been quite slow already, my objective has been to maintain my current health, with less concern for reversal. Without any special products, I have already achieved the mid 30's health and appearance that is the objective of an anti-aging program. Even though I used no anti-aging products to achieve this, my experience still validates the fact that it is possible to age more slowly than most people age. Below is a list of expected effects from restoring HGH to youthful levels and my experience with each of them so far. This is not a scientific study, of course, but my observations of myself:

HGH Effect

My Experience

Explanation

Higher energy levels

Yes

Already had high energy, but seem to crave aerobic exercise more, such as dancing and sudden urge to very energetically play basketball with 11 year old nephew in April, 2001.

Decreased fat, especially in abdominal area, without dieting

Yes

Dramatic reduction in abdominal fat, even for me. Although, the above picture does not show abdominal fat, there was some there under the shirt and now it is a lot less, with no change in diet.

Increased muscle mass without exercise

Yes

Shoulders and chest are a little bigger with no change in exercise, which is usually about 20 pushups and about 10 pullups on a door a few times a week.

Reduced appetite

Yes

Crave food less. Also, more thirsty, making it easier to meet the lifestyle recommendation of at least 8 glasses of water per day

Increased memory

Yes

I have always had a good memory, but somehow, it still seems a little better now.

Enhanced sexual performance

Not Applicable

No previous deficiency.

Thicker skin

Maybe

Skin seems to look better, but was never bad, so still hard to tell.

Wrinkle reduction or removal

Maybe

Previous wrinkles were already barely noticeable, so still hard to be sure of any difference.

Superior immune function

Not Applicable

Health was already perfect.

Improved sleep

Yes

Slept well before, but sleep is a little deeper and faster.

Improved cholesterol profile, with higher HDL and lower LDL

Not Applicable

Cholesterol profile was already good.

Stronger bones

Don't know

No measurements done.

Hair re-growth

Not Applicable

Had not lost any hair yet.

Restoration of Hair Color

Don't know

Have very few gray hairs before, not even enough to show up in photograph above.

Elimination of cellulite

Not Applicable

Never had cellulite.

Increased exercise performance

Yes

Got a chance to work out at a gym for 5 days in March, 2001. Was surprised at the faster than usual muscle growth and daily improvement in number of repetitions.

Sharper vision

Not Applicable

Have never needed reading glasses.

Mood elevation

Not Applicable

Mood was already good.

Better kidney function

Not Applicable

No previous kidney problem

Lowered blood pressure

Not Applicable

Blood pressure already low

Re-growth of heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs that shrink with age

Don't know

No measurements done.

Greater cardiac output

Don't know

No measurements done.

Faster wound healing

Don't know

Healing already seemed fast before and so far, no injures since start of HGH secretagogue.

Chronological Age: 53 H-Scan Biological Age: 33

Prevention or Delay of Graying Hair?
The gray in my hair is still barely noticeable to most people. This might be primarily genetic since the experience has been similar for my mother, her mother and a number of others on her side of the family. During my childhood, my mother took multivitamins and had all of the children take them. A few years ago, she gave me some to take and I obliged. I wondered whether the vitamins might slow the appearance of gray hairs so I decided to continue taking them when that supply ran out. I have no scientific evidence at all that the vitamins are a factor for my hair color. However, taking them is not harmful and I have read that tests have shown that loss of hair color can occur when certain nutrients included in some multivitamins are missing from the diet. These are Panthenol and PABA. (Para-Amino Benzoic Acid) PABA is also part of Folic Acid. I am not aware of any study that demonstrates that taking these nutrients can restore color or prevent graying associated with aging. There is no proof but the aformentioned clues suggest that one might try taking them just in case. So far, I know about one credible organization that is doing real scientific research in this area. That is the L'Oreal cosmetics company. See Hairsite's story on this. Also see L'Oreal's research page for less specific information from L'Oreal directly. It has also been reported that restoring human growth hormone to youthful levels will restore color to hair for some people. This has also been confirmed by my antiaging doctor. One reason that I decided to begin natural stimulation of HGH now is to attempt to prevent the eventual graying of my hair to a noticeable level.

Reading glasses not needed
In order to get an idea of whether this might be genetic, I still need to find out whether any of my relatives have needed reading glasses by the time that they reached their mid forties. My lifelong good dietary habits and regular exercise and adequate sleep might be factors, but this also cannot be directly proved by my experience.

General Health
My general health has been excellent all of my life. Lifelong good dietary habits and regular exercise and adequate sleep and genetics might all be factors. In my family most persons have lived to be 80 to 100 when the cause of death is natural. I am almost never ill. Recently, over two years passed without my catching a cold. Years pass between headaches and even then they are never severe enough to even take an aspirin. I just feel a sensation that does not quite reach the level of pain.

Exercise
Since finishing school, where exercise is a part of the schedule, my primary exercise has been 20 to 30 pushups each day, with rare lapses of a few days. Since 1996 I have added about 10 pullups per day, intermittently when I have something to use for pullups. I mainly have used door tops, when they have strong hinges. Sometimes doors also have a door jam ledge that can be used. I have a fitness club membership but have been two busy to use it. Periodically, I have played tennis or squash for a few days per week for a few months. This is not much exercise, but when you compare my picture above with the typical physique of a person my age, you can see that even a little exercise, consistently throughout life with a good, reasonably low fat, moderate quantity diet is definitely better than nothing. Even without getting to the gym or purchasing home exercise equipment, I have been able to make a difference for myself. Results will vary with different people, but from this example you can see that no matter how busy or lazy you are, keeping fit does not have to be so difficult. Consistency is most important, even if you do not do much each time. The nutritional supplements that I started on September 4, 2000 for natural stimulation of more HGH has enhanced this light regimen. Increased HGH levels have been shown to reduce body fat and increase muscle mass even without exercise.

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