Can you live longer & stop dementia?
DR AAMER KHAN, FROM THE HARLEY STREET SKIN CLINIC, EXPLAINS WHY HE BELIEVES WE CAN LOOK YOUNGER, LIVE LONGER AND EVEN DECREASE OUR CHANCES OF DEMENTIA WITHOUT THE HELP OF A NEEDLE…
From face-lifts to fillers, Botox to peels, more and more women are trying to turn back time on the outside. But if you could discover how long you might have left to live, or what your chances of dementia are, would you take the tests? Executive Editor Siobhan Wykes sits down with Doctor Aamer Khan to consider all the options…
Hi, Dr Khan. We are living longer now than ever before, but we’re also getting fatter and developing frightening diseases, such as dementia. Why do you think that is?
Well, 20 per cent of our life span is determined by the ‘genetic make-up’ we are born with, but a huge 80 per cent is determined by outside influences – what food we eat; how stressed we’re feeling; how much exercise we take; if we smoke or drink. Your environment has a direct effect on your health. It will determine how well, and how long, you will live.
When you say genetics…
We are born with a set of genes that we call ‘our genetic make-up’. Those genes determine how tall you will be, your eye colour and, yes, for some people, whether they will have a higher risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes. But developing them is largely determined by your environment. We know this, because twins that don’t grow up together often have very different health histories. So even if you have a genetic weakness in regard to certain diseases, you can lessen your risk of developing them.
You say that, but we know more than ever about healthy eating and exercise programmes, yet obesity is increasing…
True. But as a nation, we’re eating more processed food, doing less exercise and, whenever we decide to tackle any weight gain, we often go on drastic, unsustainable weight-loss programmes.
Are we born with a ‘fat’ or ‘skinny’ gene?
No. The number of fat cells you have is determined by your childhood diet – and set for life by puberty. Unfortunately, if a family didn’t instil good eating habits, you may have more fat cells than others. But you can change environmental factors. You need to look at your exercise requirements – do you need to increase your stamina or build up your endurance? Even 15 minutes, three times a week, is better than no exercise at all. And fresh food is better than processed, because processed food is full of antibiotics, preservatives and free radicals. Cut down on processed food and some research shows you can extend your life by 10, 15, even 30 years!
When do we start to age in a degenerative way?
Your body regenerates in a positive way until your mid-30s but, after that, your cell renewal rate
does slow down. We’re ageing both physically and hormonally, but you can work with your genetics to reduce the impact.
Dementia – are there things we can do to lessen our chances of developing it?
Dementia is a big fear for all of us. Genetically, you can be prone to it but, yes, you can lessen your chances of developing it by exercising your brain. Learning a new language, attempting crosswords and playing an instrument can all help. Can people discover their own genetic blueprint if they wanted to? Yes. There are numerous tests you can do that give you answers. Blood tests, mouth swabs, DNA tests, all the targeted NHS screening tests you get offered as you get older – all these tests help to build a genetic profile. They give you a lot of information, and it’s interesting, but what is the next step? There may be issues that need to be treated, but you can still work with your body by eating a healthy diet – not a strict one – and taking vitamin supplements if tests show you’re deficient. A lack of vitamin D, for example – common in a cold country – can affect your immune system. A lack of vitamin A means your body may not be getting the boost it needs to keep your skin-renewal cells working as well as they could be.
What is a telomere test?
Telomeres are cells that shorten with age. Their length can give a doctor a rough idea of how old your body is. It’s not your biological age. That said, you can extend them by cutting down on bad habits like smoking and drinking, or eating processed foods, and increasing good habits such as eating more fresh food and exercise.
How long does it take to start feeling better and looking younger?
At least six months and up to 18 months. These things take time. It’s taken you over 50 years to get here, Siobhan [laughs]. Your habits are learnt behaviour, and you can change your habits, but you need to want to.
If we make a blueprint of me, will it help readers to understand what they could learn about their own health?
Yes. But you will also need to keep a diary from today – an honest one – about your bad habits… and then you have to really try to change them.
I’ll get back to you on my progress in a few months…
‘Dementia is a big fear for all of us… but you can reduce its likelihood’