[Anti-aging diagnosis and therapy: fact and fiction]

Anti-aging is a recent medical discipline and discussed rather controversially. Yet it is frequently misunderstood, not only because it is repeatedly misrepresented by the media but also because it is often practiced by laypersons without any profound knowledge about the subject matter. Moreover, most of the time it is practiced without any objective scientific basis; and this is the reason why anti-aging is being discredited. The intention of this review is to clarify and thus de-mystify the subject. Anti-aging medicine is a complex matter, hence my aim is to further understanding of the different factors and their interplay and thus to create greater interest in this exciting medical discipline.