Anti-Aging Courses

As you may know, I founded the Kildonan Institute of Gerontology in 1974, and served for 20 years as its Chief Medical Research Director. In this capacity, I delivered a series of lectures on topics related to life extension and anti-aging.

I am working on converting these lectures into a series of Anti-Aging podcasts. Here are the proposed topics:

Brain Power- 8 Hours. Dr. S.B. Hrushovetz
Aging of the brain is the number one cause of disease, disability, dissatisfaction and death in the elderly. This is because its your brain which directly and indirectly controls the function of every system of your body. In Canada 8% of people age 65 and 35% of those over the age of 85 are affected by some type of dementia. By the middle of the next century it is estimated that 50% of the elderly , i.e. those over the age of 65 will be older than 85 and the medical cost of treating dementia in the elderly population will bankrupt the healthcare system. Prevention is our only savior. This lecture series will not only discuss the causes of dementia but also outline how you at all ages can become smarter (enhancement of intelligence) as well as how to prevent you from becoming dumber (maintenance of intelligence ).

Nutrition and Supplements- 8 Hours. Dr. S.B. Hrushovetz.
The physiology of digestion and assimilation of the seven classes of nutrients will be outlined. Over 50 essential chemicals have now been identified. The nutrition guide based on recommended daily allowances (RDA's) will be reviewed. The role of nutrient supplements in health promotion and life extension (anti-aging) will be critically reviewed.

Environmental Factors and Cancer- 8 Hours. Dr. S.B. Hrushovetz
One in four deaths in Canada are from cancer, over 80% of which are due to environmental influences and therefore are potentially preventable. The course will identify some of these common environmental factors or carcinogens under 4 categories: diet, air pollution especially tobacco smoking, radiation including X-Rays, UV, and electromagnetic, and finally a miscellaneous group including drugs, alcohol, hormones, and oncogenic or tumor causing viruses. Strategies of how you can minimize your exposure as well as how to neutralize some of the potential oncogenic properties of these carcinogens will be outlined.

Life Entension/Wellness Program.- 8 Hours. Dr. S.B. Hrushovetz
This anti-Aging lecture series has 3 goals: to outline the causes of why we age and how the process may be slowed, stopped, or even reversed; secondly by means of a workshop on "Biological Markers of Aging" to permit you to determine if you are aging faster or slower than others in the same age group; and finally to assist you with your doctor and/or healthcare advisor in formulating your own personal life extension or anti-aging program so that you can add-of high quality- "life to your years and years to your life".

Radical Healing- 8 Hours. Dr. S.B. Hrushovetz
A recent Canadian survey suggests that over 80% of patients are "toying with Alternative Medicine. The purpose of this course is to extend the horizons of your understanding of health and wellness and what works and what does not work in Alternative Medicine. Chiropractic, naturopathy, homeopathy, herbology, acupuncture, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese medicine, iridology, reflexology and other healing arts will be discussed.

In one of my recent blogs I briefly discuss the changing demographics in Canada and the impact these changes will have on our health care and other social programs. Governments at all levels seem to be ignoring these facts. Their current priority is zeroing in on global warming instead.

Baby boomer's dilemma

We are told that many of our Canadian baby boomers are approaching retirement with insufficient funds in their RRSP's. But that's the least of their problems. Its other demographics that concern me.
In the late 1970's the percentage of elderly in our population (those over 65) was only 12%.Indeed the fastest growing segment of our population are those over the age of 85. Today in some areas of Canada the percentage of elderly is approaching 20% and if the present trend continues it could reach over 30% by 2050! Also when the percentage of elderly was only 12% they consumed over 30% of the health care budget.If that ratio remains the same then at 24% the elderly would consume over 60% of the budget. When if we also add the demographics of the ratio for working to retirees which was 4:1 in the 1970's and has fallen to around 1:1 at present who will generate the money to pay for these extra healthcare costs? Healthcare in Canada seems to be approaching a crisis.
Are the baby boomer's partially to blame for this crisis?. They certainly are a unique segment of our population -not only marrying later in life but having fewer children. Legalizing abortion by the Canadian government also played a factor in changing these demographics. Between 1965-2000 anywhere from 35,000 to 125,000 abortions were done annually. Today it is estimated that still about 100,000 are performed annually.
I leave it to the reader to be the juror.

Ken's Cottage Party

One of our friends, a retired judge, invited a group of us to an afternoon gathering at his cottage on Star Lake, one of 200 lakes in Whiteshell Provincial Park. The event was on Saturday July 14, 2007 from 1:00-6.00 pm. Ken gave us excellent directions so we did not have any difficulty reaching his cottage. We had been there once before probably about 20 years ago.

When we arrived, Ken gave us a tour of his summer retreat. The modern new kitchen had an island counter excellent for buffet entertaining, which was later demonstrated at mealtime. He incorporated the flagstones from the old entrance into new fireplace in the living room. What I found interesting were the ceiling flood lights which were incorporated into a beam. In fact the whole house was a masterpiece of varnished logwood beams.

Off the kitchen was another room which opened directly on the large deck measuring almost the entire width of the cottage. From the deck one could get glimpses of the lake. There was a path which one could take to the lake and the dock where Ken had a shed large enough to accommodate his 2 canoes which were on shore near the permanent deck. I took some movie on my canon Sony HDV.

Ken announced mealtime with an old school bell. His younger son and his wife (www.sueanddwight.com) were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. We sang them "Mnohaya Lita" (God grant you many years") a traditional Ukrainian song in Ukrainian and Polish. I have the Ukrainian version on video.

After a wonderful day spent with old friends, we departed for Winnipeg around 6.30 pm.