Anti-Aging Books

Excellent book on how steroids moved from the gym culture in California to mainstream America, from professional to high school athletics and strange way we view steroids - classifying them as dangerous drugs while giving those who make, distribute or use them little more than a slap on the wrist. I liked the personal anecdotes about the people involved, which lent a lot of color to a very throughly researched book. I'm looking forward to learning more about this topic, especially as the Beijing Olympics unfold. It will be interesting to see how the IOC handles the issue this go around.

Shaun Assaels book steroid nation is a powerful history of how performance enhancing drugs have swept our nation. He gives fascinating details about how steroids were used as early as the 1960's by Americans. His detailed look at Venice Steroid Guru Dan Duchaine is scary at times. Being a powerlifter and an avid reader of all of the muscle magazines I found this book to be the most accurate portrayal of what's really going on in sports, both on the field, and the cover ups going on off the field. It's a MUST READ for all sports fans. So the next time some one asks you "do you think that guy is on steroids?" You'll know the answer is probably yes!!!

Shaun Assael, in his book Steroid Nation*, does a great job of weaving the threads of the steroid story from its less than humble beginnings as part of the Venice Beach bodybuilding underground to the Tour de France scandal, use by NFL stars and Major League Baseball players and Olympic champions. Assael tells the story of how the Dan Duchaine, the original steroid guru, opened up Pandora's Box when he published the Underground Steroid Handbook for Men and Women in 1982, and set in motion events that were responsible for - among other things - the BALCO Labs performance-enhancing drug scandal, the drug related deaths of professional wrestlers and the creation of the multi-billion dollar dietary supplement industry.

Steroid Nation* is a crazy story of mad geniuses, smugglers, drug dealers, underground gurus, self-taught chemists, deviants, narcissists, human guinea pigs, cheaters and liars. For people who have had their head in the sand with regard the steroids in sports scandal, Steroid Nation* will grab them by the scruff of their collective necks and shake them into awareness. The uninitiated will be amazed that a sociopath like Dan Duchaine could have had an influence on everything from the explosion of the use of steroids and human growth hormone to the creation of the drugs that were at the heart of the BALCO Labs scandal.

The amazing thing about how performance-enhancing drugs have affected the world of recreational activities and sport, is that there is a coherent string running through the story that connects the pioneers of the movement 30 years ago - Duchaine and his contemporaries; people that nobody has really ever heard of - to some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment of the past 10 years. A business that was as underground and as seedy as any seedy underground business could ever be, affected and then turned into something public, high-tech and lucrative.

Steroids, human growth hormone, creatine, androstendione, legal and illegal supplements have all been developed and used by people looking to get an edge, make some money and build a following. Steroid Nation* tells the story of how underground chemists looking for the next hot drug and supplement developed substances of dubious efficacy and that made people fortunes, while creating problems for the anti-doping movement.

Steroid Nation* is a great book, a book that tells a lot of stories and a book that every sports fan should read. If you don't understand the fuss about steroids, this book will help put things into perspective. "The Juice" isn't something that just came onto the scene, and athletes haven't just started cheating over the past few years.

The current performance-enhancing drug scandal didn't start with Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, BALCO Labs or Barry Bonds. The scandal started 30 years ago and has been growing the whole time, bubbling to the surface every once in a while. Read Shaun Assael's book Steroid Nation* so that you can get up to speed and understand the story that's been going on since the 1970s and that will continue to unfold in new and crazy ways as time goes by.

It's impossible to be a fan of sports these days and not be aware of the role that steroids play in the lives of athletes. If you listen to the athletes themselves, only a few rogue players get sucked up in the juice. But any rational human knows that the truth is something completely different. In the book Steroid Nation: Juiced Home Run Totals, Anti-aging Miracles, and a Hercules in Every High School: The Secret History of America's True Drug Addiction, Shaun Assael looks at steroid use in America from 1981 to today. You can't help but draw the conclusion that there is a vast conspiracy of silence that allows this to go on in professional and amateur sports.

Contents:
Band of Believers - 1981 - 1992: The Guru of Venice; "Zee Codes, Zey Are Missing", Mules, Threesomes, and Mom; The Running Man; Inside Job; Blow Out; The Biggest Believers
Tapping the Vein - 1992 - 2000: Mormon Money; The Perfect Pitch; Solace and Sex; 'Cause I'm TNT, I'm Dynamite!; The King Is Dead
Long Live The King - 2000 - Present: The Right Stuff; A Bully Pulpit; The Scientist Strikes Back; The Two Arnolds; State of the Union; This Is War; A Vicious Cycle; Growing Pains
Acknowledgments; Bibliography; Source Notes; Index

Assael goes back to the days of the Underground Steroid Handbook and Dan Duchaine. Duchaine became known as "The Guru" due to his extensive knowledge and experimentation with performance enhancing drugs. Working out of the Gold's Gym in Venice, he quickly became the go-to guy when bodybuilders wanted to get bigger and athletes needed to get stronger. While these drug sales were far from legal, the government wasn't as motivated to prosecute as they are in today's environment. But that doesn't mean that all the players were staying out of jail. Duchaine did a couple of jail stints, and his life started to slide downhill at a rapid pace as he became addicted to some of his chemical concoctions. His destructive behavior also affected his relationships with women, as ones that stayed around more than a week or two usually ended up physically wrecked in the long run.

Duchaine isn't the only story in Steroid Nation, however. There are other dealers who have become front-page names, like Victor Conte from BALCO. Dealers abound both locally and internationally as the technology becomes more available and the profit potential skyrockets. The government agents, such as Don Catlin and Terry Madden, are forever fighting a battle where the criminals are usually a step or two ahead of law enforcement and the science of detection. And then there are the athletes and celebrities... Lyle Alzado, Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Sylvester Stallone, and many others. The gap between the public image and the actual behavior is incredibly vast. Nearly all deny there are any chemical shenanigans going on, even after positive tests. And even the assertions of being clean due to no positive test results rings hollow, as the chemicals used and masking agents employed change far faster than the testing labs can be updated. And if a new substance is out there that can't be detected (think "Clear" and "Cream" from BALCO), then it may just be a matter of luck that the testing labs will ever find out.

Assael writes a good story with extensive documentation. Steroid Nation is a bit slow in the beginning, as the direction of the story seems to be a bit muddled. But once I got about 50 pages in, I was completely hooked. I know that steroids are a real problem in sports. But after reading this book, I'm of the opinion that far more people are using than testing results would indicate. And while the heads of sporting leagues (and even the fans) want to believe that there's not a problem, they also don't want to go back to the days when their stars looked normal, not "larger than life".

Steroid Nation will open your eyes to the true nature and extent of the problem, as well as the hypocrisy of those who would want you to believe that they are eradicating steroids and winning the war.

The book details the growth of steroid use by US athletes. The topic is pretty intuitively understood so there is little point in a plot summary. Instead, critical comments follow.

What I liked:
*lots of primary research
*interesting topic
*well-written in terms of individual sections

What I disliked:
*seemed heavily dependant on where the author had concentrated his primary research. Read more like a data dump of who he had happened to interview than an overall view of the subject.
*Organization was a little hard to understand (sections). Also every few pages, a new location/content thread would be introduced. I know the author wanted to weave a story that was not 100% connected. And the textual use of a location header was an attempt to make it palatable to the reader. But it still didn't quite work.
*Lack of pictures. There are no photos even though this is a nonfiction book about a drug that creates interesting physiques and although the book emphasizes personalities. Other books on this subject (Balco book, Canseco book) do have pictures. The lack of pictures is cheap and minimizes the value of the work. In contrast, the cover phote is stunningly eye-catching especially in concert with the title. The obvious implication is that some publisher/editor beancounter decided to skimp on content and spend on marketing, figuring he could drive sales at mega-bookstores. Well, Amazon reviews are a place to combat that behavioral tendancy. (And rating critical reviews as not recommended is a way to fight for that tendancy!)
*Also would have liked it if he hunted down and talked a bit more with the "other side" (people who justify the use of the drugs). At least present a bit more detail of the viewpoint alluded to by Arnold (adults making decisions of own).

Neutral, but noted:
*Author has citations in the end, but has no notemarks in the text. I guess this is also a marketing thing as some people will put down a book with footnotes. (Like the famous quote that popular books on mathematics lose half their audience with each equation shown.) It's actually a nice compromise to include the endnotes in this alternate fashion. Good upgrade on Woodward who did not use endnotes at all in his first 2 Bush books.

I read "Grow Young with HGH" along with "Stopping the Clock". Stopping the Clock gives you the information about HGH and its other ant-aging associates which can make it synergistic. I reviewed the different HGH products out there and came up with what I thought was the best HGH product on the line and I was NOT dissapointed! I lost fat and gained muscle along with better concentration and energy. Thank you Dr. Klatz for the information!

After hearing friends and associates getting more energy and also sexual resurection from HGH / DHEA, I read this book and found out you do not have to age at a pre-determined rate. This book gives you the knowledge to make a choice. OK! I'll give it a try.

I haven't read the whole book - but it is very informative so far and offers the reader great ideas on staying healthy. This book is for all age groups.

The science of longevity & anti-ageing medicine are making such rapid strides that this book, published in 1996, might not be on the cutting edge as far as the latest nutrient research is concerned. However it still deserves 5 stars for its in-depth treatment of all the major issues and nutrient discoveries up to 1996 and for its readable style.

Klatz and Goldman deal with theories of aging, the natural hormones (melatonin, DHEA, hGH etc.), the miracle minerals and vital anti-oxidants, exercise, nutrition and how to handle stress. It's important to note that an anti-aging lifestyle is not only designed to extend one's life, but also to ensure a healthy, happy and quality existence at any age.

The chapter on the pioneers of anti-aging medicine and their personal secrets of longevity are particularly interesting and informative. The exercise section is very well illustrated and there are a couple of other graphs and figures to illumine the text.

The book contains a glossary, appendices on anti-aging specialists, institutes, research and educational organizations, an extensive bibliography and a thorough index.

I would also like to recommend "The Superhormone Promise" by William Regelson and "Renewal" by Timothy J. Smith. These three books together will make you an anti-aging expert. Just remember to apply this good advice!

This book focuses on anti-aging more from a scientific and external viewpoint as opposed to a more spiritual and internal outlook. To achieve immortality, one needs a holistic approach, with focus primarily on the spiritual thereby having the opportunity to study, experience and learn from all possible areas since all of life is interconnected.

The authors discuss 4 main theories of aging - the wear and tear theory, the neuroendocrine theory, the genetic control theory and the free radical theory, while making mention of various other theories as well. The middle part of the book focuses on various drugs & supplements like melatonin, DHEA, hGH, thyroid, estrogen and progesterone, testosterone, minerals like chromium, selenium and magnesium, and anti-oxidants like vitamin C, E & A, beta-carotene and CoQ-10. They discuss their effects on the body, various studies performed, and how it effects aging. They also discuss exercises, a long-life diet and how the mind is the most important factor in aging - including information on meditation, relaxation, breath control, massage and control of thinking. They finish the book with a longevity test, and focus on various individuals over the age of 60, their lifestyles and the extra-ordinary feats they performed. This book with regards to nutrition and mind-over-matter is slowly but surely proving that science is only validating the ancients. Finally this book is missing one of the most important ingredients in longevity - fasting!

Books I would recommend to actually achieve immortality are Linda Goodman's Star Signs and the list of books in the appendix, (she actually instructs on immortality) Game of Life and How to Play It, Secrets of the Soil, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, books by Dr Paul Brunton, books by Vera Stanley Alder, Your Body's Many Cries for Water, Alkalize or Die, the Secret Teachings of all Ages (numerous immortals listed), Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class, and finally books by Steve Meyerowitz.

Dr Steve; If you are an MD, how is it that you are unable to spell the word kudos? Also, please tell us how a man able to complete medical school can make grammatical and capitalization mistakes a junior high school student wouldn't. Possibly because you aren't a doctor or even play one on television? SHOPPERS OF AMAZON BEWARE!

Ive read almost everything i can find on this topic as im keenly
interested for both myself and for my medical practice , and this is
clearly the best thing yet published on this topic.
Dr klatz gives
specific advice and a series of guides and listings of both
medications and vitamins and nutients that make looking up indications
, adverse reactions and safety issues straightfoward and easy. This
book is well written and chock full of useful information for anyone
seriously interested in the topic of personal health and longevity,
many cudos to Dr.Klatz and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
who are working to make 100 yr lifespans a reality within our own
lifespan.

TEN WEEKS gives tangible ways for everyone to live longer lives in a rewarding and productive fashion. We all have an internal body clock that controls how well, or how poorly, each of us ages. This book gives proven methods that, in as little as 2-3 months, can make a marked difference in how we look and feel.

TEN WEEKS is an invaluable addition to my library because Dr. Klatz includes a Desk Reference of Anti-aging nutritional supplements. We consumers can be a bit overwhelmed by the barrage of vitamin-type products on the market, and this no-nonsense section alone is worth the price of the book.

If a family or class reunion is in your future, start your program of nutritional supplementation, dietary changes, exercise, and new outlook on life with TEN WEEKS today. Dr. Klatz's message is inspiring, and his commitment to this new field of anti-aging medicine should be applauded.

Im a family doctor and mypatient bought me this book which I reluctantly agreed to look at. I found that i could not put it down, this author actually knows his stuff and presents it in a clear and easily read format. I thought this was going to be unscientific new age hot air, but i was wrong. Antiaging medicineis solid science of the best and most reliable kind. Im now utilizing Dr.Klatz's methods in my practice and by gosh they really do work. This is a very important read for anyone interested in a longer and healthier lifetime.

This book has good info and it appeard that Dr. Klatz is married to the idea of "Anti-aging" and "longevity". I applaud his work here and in his prior book. Recently, he and Dr Bob Goldman were sanctioned though by the State of Illinois for listing themselves as "MD's", when in fact they are DO's (doctor of osteopathy). They did do the school work of a MD (in a non-US school) but not the rotations, etc. I hope that this was all cleared up as I would hate to see such a good writer and smart person get caught up in legal mishaps. I do recommend the book.

Dr. Ullis's guide to evaluating personal health and longevity status is an interesting exercise by itself. It made me think about aspects of my lifestyle and habits that I hadn't really analyzed before. After completing that segment of his plan I found a real motivation for implementing his suggestions. Especially helpful to me was the table explaining a wide number of supplement products. The table made it easy for me to sort out what would really help me from what might help me or what wouldn't help at all. Thanks, Dr. Ullis, for helping me feel more in control of my "lifetime!"

If you are relatively new to longevity, anti-aging etc., this is a good introduction. It presents general information. If you are looking for information you can apply in practice, such as the quantity of supplements you might consider taking and the respective scientific references, then it is not for you. In this case get "Renewal the Anti-Aging Revolution". It is the best I have read, period.

"Age Right" by Dr. Karlis Uliss with Greg Ptacek Anyone concerned about diminished sex drive, lack of energy, weight gain, depression or other "normal" signs of aging should order a copy of "Age Right," by Dr. Karlis Ullis, with Greg Ptacek. An easy-to-use home guide for assessing and treating symptoms of aging, "Age Right" offers handy advice for choosing supplements, hormones and herbal remedies. Before I read "Age Right," I thought my only defense against aging was eating right and exercising. I found out that was only half the story. I can't wait for Dr. Uliss' next book, "T-Boosters." Cheryl Woodruff Sherman Oaks

As an esthetician and holistic health practitioner, I am always seeking knowledge which will be of benefit to myself and my clients. I believe that I have found a real gem.

The author's extensive experience, coupled with a gift for written communication, has yielded a surprisingly comprehensive reference. Do not be fooled by the book's smaller format. It is packed with truly valuable and usable information.

Thank you, Victoria Mogilner, for creating this little treasure!

Drawing upon her more than thirty years of experience and expertise, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation: A Holistic, Nonsurgical Approach to Youth & Well-Being" by Victoria J. Mogilner (a certified acupuncturist, Chinese medicine practitioner, aesthetician, and tai chi instructor) presents a holistic alternative to caring for the skin without the use of chemical and surgical procedures. Advocating the use of facial acupuncture to counteract the signs of aging and which takes only a few minutes each day in the form of an 'Acupuncture Facelift' process that involves lightly pressing certain points on the face, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation" also features strategies for attaining outer beauty and inner beauty through health nutrition, essential oils and aromatherapy, tai chi, qigong, and self-massage. A welcome addition to Alternative Medicine reference collections, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation" is especially recommended reading for anyone concerned with rejuvenating their facial skin without resorting to plastic surgery.

The author does a wonderful job at covering a lot of topics holistically yet simplistically with detailed information on the subjects. It's a quick read, sensible and I especially liked the chapter where she speaks of eating for the seasons. Also, the book gave me an opportunity to look at my face and study the damages that my cellular body may be going through. Though I wish she elaborated on that particular chapter I was more than happy to have purchased the book. Since then I've look into a few other ancient Chinese and Japanese, and also Indian forms of reflexology... The whole concept of eating simply to live simply is...Perfect! Keeps us humble, full and energetic.

This extensive and voluminous work reveals nature's goldmine that can help us live a healthy life and explains how to maintain youthful looks and combat disease through the use of the right supplements and foods.

Part One: Beautiful Benefits From The Garden Of Youth, deals with phyto-pharmacy, in other words the miracle substances found in fruits, vegetables and herbs. The author explains the concept of the miracle sevens, i.e. the 7 best beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices.

Part Two: Natural Strategies That Stop The Clock, contains chapters on amongst others, the best herbs for staying young, easy breathing (including the Broncho-Buster Tea), cancer prevention, digestion, energy, a healthy heart, immunity, mental sharpness and smooth skin.

Part Three: Fighting The Enemies That Age You points out harmful habits and substances and provides remedies for specific problems and diseases like arthritis, fatigue, hair loss, blood pressure problems, diabetes, cholesterol, varicose veins, insomnia and more.

Anti-Ageing Prescriptions is an excellent guide to longevity by means of medicinal plants and their anti-ageing compounds. It also includes lifestyle strategies and recipes for making 76 elixirs. There is a Consumer's Guide To Self-Care, divided into sections for herbs, essential oils and supplements. The book concludes with a bibliography, resources list and index.

I recommend Anti-Ageing Prescriptions along with Renewal by Timothy J. Smith, Stopping The Clock by Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Forever Ageless by Rothenburg and The Superhormone Promise by William Regelson and Carol Colman. The collected wisdom of these works will light the way to a longer, happier life.

As a professional academic biologist with a background in nursing and biomedical research, I highly commend and even more highly recommend Dr. Duke's book. He is a first rate ethnobotanist. This book, and his ohters, should be far better-known and read. Not does does he give sage advice (so to speak) about herbals, he presents a great approach to life and growing older. Read, consider his line of reasoning, and absorb the larger messages in the books. Then, if you're like me you'll eat better, be more suspicious of standard medical answers and and more open to trying herbal approaches that are frequently safer, and sometimes more effective.

I am a skeptic by profession as is Dr. Duke!), but slowly I've tried many of his suggestions. The results? Over the past two years, as I implemented his advice step-by-step, I found my high blood pressure dropping and needing fewer Rx medications; my type II diabetes is under truly superb control; and my blood lipid levels have been termed "all I could ask for " by my excellent family doctor. And one by one, Rx meds are being discontinued. Oh yes - regular use of turmeric and ginger have all but eliminated my pain from osteoarthritis, better than glucosamine ever did. But be prepared to give these trials a few months to see results.

Dr. Duke is the "real thing" and a wise counsel. Bravo, doctor, bravo!

If you're still a doubter after reading these reviews, read Medical Nemesis by Ivan Illich. Then read Dr. Duke. Modern medicine is still pretty primitive.

I thought I would be the 50th person to write a "testimonial" for THE GREEN PHARMACY -- ANTI-AGING PRESCRIPTIONS by James Duke, but it turns out no one has written a review to date. This is a big surprise for me because Dr. Duke's book is wonderful.

Dr. Duke (he has a Ph.D.) retired from the USDA where he worked as Chief of the Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory for years. In retirement (he's age 72), he remains active in ReNuPeru, a medicinl herb garden in the Peruvian Amazon maintained by the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research. In other words, he has credentials in plant pharmaecology recognized by the U.S. Government.

Dr. Duke owns a six-acre farmette in Fulton Maryland where he raises medicinal/food plants. I discovered Duke in a book on herbalist gardens entitled, THE HERBALIST'S GARDEN, by Shatoiya and Richard de la Tour. Both books (Duke and de la Tour) were reviewed by a local garden expert in the Washington Post. The Post article and the de la Tour book contain beautiful photographs of Duke's garden but alas he has included no photographs in his own book (why I gave it 4 stars).

I've been growing and using herbs for over forty years (I drank Camomile tea and ate bean and barley soup in the 1960s), and I own a number of books on this subject. Dr. Duke's book on "anti-aging prescriptions" appeals to me because 1) I am older and the book meets my immediate needs, 2) the book is laid out by ailment or "challenge" not by herb. In othr words, I don't have to hunt for salient information.

For example, if you're worried about cracking and peeling skin you can turn to Section 22. 'Smooth Skin' and read about the various approaches, techniques, etc. you might use to improve your skin's health. I discovered the flaxseed oil I have been taking for symtoms of menopause is exactly what I need for skin health but I should buy a variant that includes Borage or Evening Primrose oil.

Duke has many helpful suggestions including eating what he calls the Paleolithic diet consisting of many servings of vegetables and fruits and fewer servings of meats, cheeses and other dairy items (I'm not eating grubs--nor does he recomend them). And, yes you've probably read about this diet--it's the official USDA recommended diet--but Duke's value-added information is the list of ingredient he pinpoints for health. He explains why prunes, plums and other dark fruit are good for you, and why beans other than soy beans make a difference. To begin your older years (50+) in good health, I recommend you read Dr. Duke's book and practice what he preaches.

Le Vert's book has given a wealth of information and caused me to see what an important role melatonin can play as I age. The hormonal fluxuations I've experienced so far have been periodically debilitating. After a search of the net, I've also found a source - iHerb - that is as effecient in its prices and delivery as Amazon is for books.

A very readable question-&-answer guide to a natural supplement that could be your key to a longer, healthier life. It details the complete scientific explanations on how this natural hormone works to keep the human body healthier for longer. You can find out exactly what melatonin is, why it is called the "master hormone," who should take it as a supplement, its use as a sleeping pill, safety aspects, and how it helps the body in many different ways. Not only is melatonin a powerful anti-oxidant, but it also boosts the immune system in a variety of ways. Contains a very useful glossary and extensive bibliographies by chapters. For readers interested in natural hormone supplementation, I also highly recommend the works of Dr Ray Sahelian on DHEA, Pregnenolone and Melatonin.

Suzanne Levert has done it again! She takes a complex subject and makes it as easy to understand as a childrens book. She does this by using a question and answer format. She quotes my research on Melatonin and Seasonal Depression in the circum-polar north and explained in understandable terms. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to understand the subject melatonin.

This is NOT a "five star" book. This title was printed in 2000...and pretty much just a re-hash of Carbohydrates Addict Diet and Dr. Atkins books. I was hoping for something a little more original.

I happened upon this book in the bookstore (sorry Amazon!), and I read it in a few hours. In my opinion, it is a gem! Very easy reading, with good titles and useful charts, and enough scientific references to satisfy those looking for "proof." The authors maintain that many of the worst diseases and disorders, and premature aging and death, can be linked to an overload of sugar in our diets, which results in rising insulin levels and fat production. Carbs are the culprit, not fat! They contend that "there are serious risk factors associated with elevated insulin which can hasten our demise." They provide seemingly good evidence.

The way out, they claim, is through the Low Glycemic Diet, based on the glycemic index, OR the Low-Carb Anti-Aging Diet, which puts the body into ketosis. The latter is recommended for its weight loss benefits as well as the health benefits. The authors do refer to Dr. Atkins, but they take (in my opinion) a more healthful approach, recommending the liberal use of fresh vegetables. They also maintain that the diet is effective at low or moderate levels of ketosis. Their approach is a lifestyle approach, rather than a temporary diet, and their arguments are compelling. There is a website for updates and a free newsletter. I recommend this book highly.

This little book has cured me from being an "on again, off again" low-carb dieter. It gives you, in plain english and an easy reading style, all of the reason to eliminate sugars and starches from your diet and also takes the mystery out of which supplements are needed. I continually refer to it.

This is the story of the miracle medicine deprenyl (eldepryl), an inhibitor of the enzyme Monoamine Oxidase B. The book recounts how it was developed, the people that developed it and popularised it, the amazing benefits it provides to sufferers of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, its preventive action against these, and its by now unquestioned role in extending lifespan.

In the Foreword, Saul Kent of the Life Extension Foundation takes a look at studies that confirm and extend the evidence of deprenyl's remarkable life extension benefits. He discusses its role in Alzheimer's disease, its mechanism of action, safety, boosting of anti-oxidant enzyme activity and how it extends lifespan.

The main body of the book tells the tale of Selegiline, Deprenyl or Eldepryl. It starts in the USA where instances are provided of how this medicine miraculously improved the lives of sufferers from Parkinson's disease.

Deprenyl is part of a group called the MAO Inhibitors. The first of these was Iproniazid, originally developed to treat tuberculosis, when it was discovered that it lifted the mood of sufferers from this disease. As a result, the MAO Inhibitors were used to treat depression, but they had severe side effects because of an interaction with certain foods like cheese.

In Budapest, Professor Joseph Knoll and Elizabeth Miller designed the molecule in 1961. Knoll kept it alive for 15 years until it went on sale in Hungary in 1978 as a treatment for Parkinson's. In 1971 Knoll argued that deprenyl does not have the side effects of the other MAOI's because it is a selective inhibitor of MAO. The article that finally opened the door to the worldwide use of deprenyl appeared in The Lancet in 1971.

A large part of the story is dedicated to the history of the trials and tribulations of getting deprenyl approved by the FDA for sale in the USA. This finally happened in June 1989 and only for Parkinson's.

The body's own most potent three internal free-radical scavengers are Glutathione Peroxidase, Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase. Subsequent studies have revealed that in addition to inhibiting Monoamine Oxidase B, deprenyl also strongly boosts the production of the anti-oxidant Superoxide Dismutase, and to a lesser extent, Catalase. In the foreword, Kent discusses the findings of several studies of this beneficial effect of deprenyl.

Appendix A is Case Studies by Dr Ronald Klatz of the American Longevity Research Institute. Appendix B consists of five abstracts: 3 Life Extension Studies by Dr Knoll, Dr Milgram and Dr Kitani, Deprenyl's Effect on Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase by Dr Kitani, and The Rescue Of Dying Neurons by Dr Tatton. Appendix C provides information on Alastair Dow, Dr Ronald M Klatz and Saul Kent.

The interested reader may also find Life Extension Magazine of value, plus the books The New-Anti Aging Revolution: Stopping The Clock by the aforementioned Dr Ronald Klatz, and Mind Boosters by Dr Ray Sahelian.

My father has Parkinson's disease. This book gave me a lot of useful information about Deprenyl's progress through the years. It is written in an interesting format that draws your interest. I could relate to the book with symptoms and progression. It outlines the history-who and why-of Deprenyl and is detailed with case studies and testimonials. It even makes me think that I may explore taking Deprenyl myself when I am older for prevention of degenerative progress of aging. Read the book cover to cover--if you skip around many of the ironic and interesting details will be lost.

Good informtion in a very bad condition book. Not at all what I was expecting. The seller has yet to make contact back to correct this problem.

I purchased this book to get info. on mature makeup techniques-WOW, this book was extremely informative and one of the best I have read. put together wonderfully, there aren't many books on this subject and this was well worth the money for anyone interested in this type of makeup.