[Current concepts in anti-aging]

Anti-aging medicine does not intend to prolong life by all means regardless of the underlying situation. In contrast, anti-aging medicine seeks strategies in order to maintain a high quality of health for people in the second half of their lives, i.e. they should be able to live in their old age without chronic damage to their health. Accordingly, anti-aging strategies have to affect various aspects of life. In Vienna, the following therapeutic concept is currently offered to our patients,which consists of 4 elements: 'lifestyle modification', 'restriction of calories', 'phytotherapy' and our individualized hormone replacement therapy. As estimated by the World Health Organization, the percentage of people aged over 85 will increase dramatically from the year 2010 on. In the light of these data, 'anti-aging medicine' or'preventive medicine' can no longer be neglected.