Fighting the aging process

The aging of America is one of the greatest health care concerns facing the country today. Different health organizations estimate that the population of Americans over the age of 65 will double to 70 million by the year 2040. Worldwide, the number of people aged 60 years or older is projected to increase from 593 million in 1999 to 1.97 billion by 2050.

As men and women age, they do share some of the same health issues. A loss of muscle mass and strength, increases in fat mass, progressive loss of bone mass, and overall decreases in feelings of well-being are a few signs of aging.

Menopause usually marks the onset of these changes in women, but there is not one event that signifies this same change in men. The signs of aging in men are generally much slower, but there is a male menopause that is sometimes referred to as andropause.

Andropause is a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age in males, and is mainly characterized by a deficiency in serum androgen -- mostly testosterone -- levels. Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that increases in levels during puberty and then begins to decrease progressively at a rate of approximately 1 percent per year, starting as early as age 30.

Scientists have identified five clinical domains affected by andropause -- body mass, hair and skin, central nervous system (mood), sex (libido) and prostate health. All of these systems interact, which can significantly increase the risk of frailty and loss of independence in older men, according to Jeffery M. Janot, Ph.D. The good new is that all of these conditions can be positively impacted by exercise training.

During andropause, the most common chronic change that contributes significantly to the rate of disability in older men is sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that occurs with aging. Obesity also may be another strong predictor of low testosterone levels. Maintaining a regular strength training program might be one of the best strategies in minimizing the symptoms of andropause.

Hormone therapy is an option for some men, and it can be administered in two ways -- through testosterone injections every two weeks or by a daily application of a transdermal patch or gel. Although testosterone replacement has proven moderately effective at increasing muscle mass and strength, it has the most consistent effect on muscle mass decline.

To improve muscle mass, strength training is more effective than simply taking hormone therapy. Two to three days of periodized weight training is a sufficient start for both men and women looking to slow down the signs of aging. The best strategy is prevention; hold on to your muscle mass before you start to lose it.

If you would like more information on andropause, there are several sites on the Web that address the topic. Also, Robert Tan, M.D. has published a book, "The Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths About the Male Menopause."

Kim Springer and her husband, Mike, are certified personal trainers and owners of Springer Training. They can be reached at 233-9442 or at their Web site www.springertraining.com.