Defy Your Age™ With Cenegenics® Jacksonville
Aging is Aging, Right?
Conventional wisdom might say so.
From lower energy levels to chronic pain and loss of muscle tone, there are many symptoms older adults experience that are considered to be “just a part of aging.” Declining libido and weight management challenges are a few additional conditions people witness with age, and the common sentiment is that there isn’t much we can do about it.
Not True
There is something you can do to take control of your health as you age: proactive age management. Based on science and proven by medical research, modern anti-aging solutions are powerful treatments used to improve the quality of life for individuals as they enter their later years.
Optimal health takes your wellness beyond the “normal ranges” found in traditional medicine – which, in many cases, aren’t very healthy at all – empowering you to become the healthiest version of yourself. After all, ranges considered normal by the US population are commonly not ideal, or even acceptable, as 39% of the US adult population being overweight or obese.
Moreover, optimal health encompasses exhaustive testing and diagnostics which enables expert physicians to drill down and identify underlying conditions which could be contributing to persistent health issues, such as low energy or inability to lose weight. At Cenegenics®, this approach is at the heart of what we do.
Cenegenics® is the Defining Clinical Leader in Health Optimization Medicine
Founded in 1997, Cenegenics® is recognized in the medical community for its pioneering work in age management medicine. Its physicians are the leading authorities in the field, with Jeffrey P. Leake, M.D., Senior Physician and Director of Education for Cenegenics® having co-authored the Textbook of Age Management Medicine. This guide serves as the foundation for clinical practice and was written based on Dr. Leake’s decade of experience at Cenegenics®.
The entire Cenegenics® team is passionate about helping individuals overcome the challenges of aging, enabling you to reclaim your glory days™. Here are some compelling statistics to note:
- 1 in 3 adults suffers from high blood pressure, while only 54% of these individuals are actively controlling it
- 70% of adults are overweight, while 34% have obesity
- 80% of adults have at least one chronic health condition, while 50% have two or more [2]
While these conditions are not exclusive to older adults alone, we do know that aging can exacerbate symptoms or make an individual more prone to developing them. We are living longer now and, as such, there is an increasing demand to provide older adults with the specialized care they need and deserve.
This is precisely what Cenegenics® aims to do. We take age management a step further by providing personalized, physician-developed optimal health programs to Defy Your Age™, taking an all-encompassing approach to improving wellness. Read on to find out how our programs work, and to learn what our services can do for you.
Start with a Highly Comprehensive Full-Day Assessment
A highly trained expert physician in optimal health cannot properly diagnose a patient without extensive diagnostic testing. This should include not only lab panels and physical exams, but also more robust assessments including carotid artery, neurocognitive, VO2 max testing, body composition, and bone mineral density testing.
The starting point of the Cenegenics® program is the most comprehensive preventive health evaluation in the industry. It goes far beyond many well-known “Executive Health” evaluations, digging deep to establish as thorough a representation of a person’s health as possible. Our rigorous testing precisely measures all biologic and physiologic biomarkers, as well as physical and neurocognitive functioning, and includes:
1. Medical History and Lifestyle Assessment
Are you always tired? Have you struggled to lose weight and tone as aging progresses? Perhaps you’re experiencing hormone problems or seeking ways to improve sex drive. No matter which health issues you’re facing, the Cenegenics® team wants to hear about it.
During the lifestyle assessment, you’ll provide information about your day-to-day living habits, including activity levels and eating patterns. You will also be asked to provide details about any noteworthy health issues, procedures, or other experiences you have to formulate a well-rounded overview of your medical history. This information will help the specialists shape a highly personalized program according to your unique needs.
2. Comprehensive Labs
The extensive lab panel measures a broad range of health indicators, including: CBC (complete blood count), evaluations on hormone levels, cardiac disease risks, lipid panels, homocysteine levels, potential prostate issues (in men), and urine analysis, among others. The results will reveal markers for disease risk and low hormone levels below the healthy range, which our programs can restore. It will also provide the opportunity to address any underlying conditions, if needed.
3. Physical Evaluation
When is the last time you received a full physical exam? Fewer than a quarter of all visits to family physicians are from older adults [1], which suggests that seniors aren’t seeking out preventive health care services as often as they should be. The ability to catch potentially life-threatening illnesses early on lies in routine physical examinations. The Cenegenics® staff is adept at performing comprehensive, efficient exams.
Beyond drawing attention to serious health issues, physicals also provide medical experts the opportunity to take vital signs and spot any abnormalities which may have otherwise gone unnoticed. The findings from your physical will also factor into your comprehensive optimal health plan.
4. Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
The number we see on the scale only tells us one thing about our bodies. Calculating body composition, however, is far more involved than that. A number of complex factors contribute to our bodily makeup, which is why we use state-of- the-art DEXA scanning to measure:
- Lean muscle mass
- Body fat percentage
- Bone mineral density
Each Cenegenics® center offers a series of comprehensive scans that provide the most accurate measurements of bone and cardiometabolic health to help specialists develop a data-driven approach to clinical treatment. If you have a condition such as poor bone health, for instance, it can be analyzed quickly, allowing you to receive an initial treatment plan tailored specifically for you upon your first physician visit. Additional risk factors are assessed that correlate with visceral body fat levels, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.
5. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing – CPET
If you’re suffering from a lack of energy, this test could yield significant insights as to why. A VO2 Max test will measure your volume of oxygen consumption by assessing your ability to perform sustained exercise at maximum exertion. If there is an obstacle getting in your way of pursuing a weight loss program through fitness, this may be the test to help uncover it. It is generally considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance.
VO2 Max Results allow us to design a program that will help:
- Maximize fat burning potential based on the best way to lose weight for your body type
- Condition the heart to become stronger both during physical activity and periods of rest
- Improve exercise efficiency to help you achieve powerful results
6. Carotid Artery Ultrasonography – Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Exam
Heart health is among the most important areas of focus within the Cenegenics® program. One in four fatalities are caused by heart events [3], and traditional medicine mischaracterized 50% of patients as “low risk” who later went on to experience a heart event [4]. We aim to change these statistics with a more accurate assessment of heart attack risk, and by preventing heart events in at-risk populations with effective, proactive interventions.
The carotid arteries (there are actually two – one on either side of the neck) supply blood to the brain, making this artery branch one of the most important systems in the body. A clinical examination of the arteries can uncover important evidence of conditions, leading to diagnosis and treatment. Inflammation of the artery, for instance, could point to an autoimmune disorder or previously undetected infection. Weakness and bulging in the artery can also indicate a number of ailments, which upon further investigation, may be treated effectively.
The CIMT Test is an FDA-approved, noninvasive advanced ultrasound evaluation of the carotid arteries. This evaluation allows for detection of existing plaque and provides a highly precise measurement of the thickness of the artery wall. Thickening of the artery wall is an early sign of vascular disease and relates to your risk of heart attack as well as stroke. Early detection allows for the formulation of proactive strategies to reduce your risk for these catastrophic events.
Both this test and the other sophisticated heart health testing provided by Cenegenics® provide powerful insights into cardiovascular health, but are not commonly practiced within traditional medicine.
7. Neurocognitive Assessment
One critical aspect of optimizing health as you age is maintaining – and in some cases, even strengthening – cognitive abilities. We begin to experience cognitive decline as early as our mid-twenties, with the decline in thinking and reasoning skills, memory impairment, and a decreased ability to maintain focus and solve problems becoming more pronounced thereafter [5].
While cognitive decline is indeed a scientifically proven aspect of aging, that isn’t to say that there’s nothing that can be done about it. Through our computerized cognitive assessment, CNS Vital Signs, we are able to evaluate important brain functions including memory, processing speed, executive function, and many other vital activities. Once on the Cenegenics® program, patients often witness a significant improvement in cognitive performance. This is because our optimal health solutions are not focused on one area of wellness exclusively; instead, we firmly believe that supporting both the mental and physical aspects of well-being are essential to overcoming age-related challenges.
8. Core strength and flexibility assessment
If you’ve ever embarked on a weight loss program, you know that eating a balanced diet and maintaining physical fitness are the best ways to lose weight. While strength and flexibility are not the only markers of vitality, they are considered important measures of fitness. By assessing your current fitness levels, the Cenegenics® team will be able to forge a comprehensive strategy to help you reach your goals.
9. Comprehensive exercise and nutrition assessment
Many individuals who enter the Cenegenics® program want to know how to lose weight quickly. A better question would be: How can I lose weight in a way that’s sustainable for my lifestyle? With an in-depth assessment, we will unlock the answers to this question. With that said, the program will still provide enough challenge, forcing the body to adapt, spurring noticeable results.
10. Food Allergy & Immunology Testing*
An analysis of diet-induced sensitivity pathways provides individual insights into inflammation-provoking foods and food chemicals specific to your body’s own response, which could be interfering with your health goals. Food sensitivities and allergies are commonly perceived as initiating minor, temporary symptoms. Unfortunately, not all symptoms are recognizable and, more frustratingly, many symptoms associated with food allergies can be attributed to other issues.
Something as seemingly innocent as gluten could be creating a chronic inflammatory reaction within your body, causing you to experience persistent discomfort and acting as a barrier against your wellness goals. More specifically, a spike in white cells caused by an allergy can have a pro-inflammatory and pro-algesic mediator release. It is the interplay between these pro-algesic mediators (cytokines, histamines, and prostaglandins) and analgesic mediators that causes inflammatory pain. Left untreated, high levels of pro-algesic mediators can have a chronic inflammatory response which can develop into both short-term conditions and long-term disease. Our specialized diagnostics are used to assess these levels, helping our clinical team derive data-driven insights that can factor into your wellness strategy.
11. Micronutrient Analysis*
Although needed only in small amounts, micronutrients play a vital role in a number of key bodily functions, including: hormone production, immune function, enzymatic function, and metabolism of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids. Micronutrients are also needed to support general cell replication and repair – two factors which are critical to fighting the effects of aging. By understanding micronutrient imbalances within your system, we can identify any risk factors that could contribute to degenerative diseases, balance deficiencies that could otherwise hinder anti-aging treatment, and gain further insights into common complaints related to specific diseases.
12. Genomic Testing*
Have you ever wondered why some people seem more susceptible to health conditions than others? Many risk factors have a lot to do with our genetics. Our comprehensive exome sequencing measures all 22,000 genes of your DNA and cross-references them with more than 100,000 health-related findings on cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive function, potential prescription drug complications, and various chronic diseases. In doing so, we can determine which types of treatments will be safest and most effective based on your genetic profile. Measurements of this degree outperform traditional genome sequencing tests, which only look at partial snippets of your DNA and cannot pinpoint the rare genetic mutations that 10% of Americans have [6].
13. Telomerase Testing*
Telomeres are an essential part of human cells that affect cellular aging. They also protect critical information of our DNA. When telomeres are abnormally short, they are linked to premature cellular aging. By understanding your percentage of short telomeres, we are able to prioritize critical lifestyle changes, as well as nutraceutical selection, to improve the telomerase enzyme for healthier, longer telomeres.
14. Genetic Inflammatory Biometric Testing*
Biometric testing sounds complex, but it can be broken down rather simply. Since “bio” refers to living things and “metrics” is simply another word for measurements, genetic inflammatory biometric testing is just a phrase that describes the measurement of your inflammatory reactions based on genetic factors. Here are three of the main testing types we use to uncover these insights:
- KIF6: Genotype that determines if specific cardiovascular medications are useful to the individual
- ApoE: Genotype that determines response to dietary fat
- 9p21: Genotype that determines risk of early onset heart attack, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and total heart disease risk
15. Cardiovascular Biomarkers*
When the heart is damaged or stressed, it releases substances called cardiac biomarkers into the bloodstream. Measuring these markers can help determine whether or not there is sufficient blood flow to the heart, among other critical functions. Here are some of the biomarkers Cenegenics can test:
- Myeloperoxidase: Potential inflammatory precursor to myocardial infarction
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: Measure for systemic inflammation
- Microalbumin:creatinine ratio: Data suggests subjects with elevated microalbumin levels have a 3x greater risk of developing heart disease [7]
- F2-isoprostane:creatinine ratio – Gold Standard in measuring oxidative stress
Watch this video to learn more about the comprehensive evaluation:
Custom Designed Cenegenics Age Management Program
What Can I Expect from the Cenegenics® Program?
Each patient consults with their Cenegenics® physician for several hours to develop an in-depth understanding of health issues and risks based on the results of their lab and diagnostic analysis, medical history, and lifestyle assessment. The patient will then work collaboratively with their Cenegenics® physician to develop an individualized, goal-oriented plan that suits their lifestyle and food and exercise preferences. All nutraceutical supplements and, if medically indicated, hormone supplementation will be prescribed by the Cenegenics® physician. The patient will be closely monitored during follow-up lab analysis to ensure optimal dosages, as each patient’s body will absorb supplements at different rates, and adjustments can be made to reach optimal levels.
The Cenegenics® Difference: Personalized Care
Each patient is different, and that is why a “one-size-fits-all” or “take this supplement” approach will routinely fail. Some patients prefer playing tennis over going to the gym to work out, for instance. For these individuals, we custom-design exercise programs to supplement tennis playing. This maximizes efforts and eliminates redundancies, thereby delivering a comprehensive result for healthy aging.
Likewise, nutrition is highly complex and medically different for each individual (we’ll explore this in greater detail in an upcoming section). There is no such thing as a patient who eats a “perfect” diet.
With this in mind, the Cenegenics® team works with patients to develop a customized nutrition plan that works for them which they can implement with ease into their lifestyle. Many of our patients are busy executives who travel often and do not have optimal food choices available, so we create a workable system. One simple Cenegenics® weight loss tactic is to swap a starch for two sides of vegetables when dining out. Of course, this is just one example to showcase the level of personalization each patient receives when pursuing their wellness journey; there are many more physician-approved weight loss strategies that can be leveraged by individuals across all circumstances. These strategies can also be coupled with tactics like individualized fitness programs and nutraceuticals, if needed.
Cenegenics® Weight Loss Programs: Better Understanding the Role of Nutrition and Exercise
Nutrition and exercise are integral components of our robust age management programs. Here, we’ll take a look at why Cenegenics gets results when other weight loss alternatives you may have tried fell short.
Nutrition & Weight Loss Programs: More than Just Calories
Nutrition is a very important modifiable element in optimizing health as we age. It sounds simple but it is not. Nutrition is a complex, polyvalent system encompassing an interplay of hormones, genomics, hedonics, energy balance, and macronutrients. Understandably, it can become very overwhelming for an individual to conceptualize the relationship between all of these moving parts, and how mastering this balance can help them lose weight.
The nutritional prescription, therefore, should be written like any other treatment for conditions such as heart disease or diabetes: based on individual needs analysis. The interplay referred to above is patient-specific, and the nutrition plan must recognize this. By carefully reviewing the nutrition-related biomarkers via blood and genomic testing, Cenegenics® prioritizes which markers are playing the most detrimental role in your health, and then develops a plan of attack based on these factors.
In some individuals, for example, carbohydrate metabolism and the ability to utilize the body’s primary source of fuel can decline over many years. In certain cases, this could be a result of poor nutritional choices. Others may learn that they have genetic markers that prevent them from breaking down seemingly healthy foods appropriately, and instead their bodies respond via inflammation. Identifying these issues and developing a nutritional strategy that progresses and changes as the individual reduces their risk factors and becomes healthier is critical to long-term success.
Lose Weight & Tone with the Cenegenics® Approach to Exercise
Now, let’s talk about exercise. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to exercise your way to significant fat reductions alone. However, when combined with an optimized eating program, exercise is key to aging well. Like diet, exercise must be patient-specific, comprising the proper mix of aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and balance training.
Too often, we get caught in the moment, seeking short-term solutions on how to lose weight quickly. We may succumb to fitness and exercise trends that are promoted in magazines, on television, and across social media. These programs are often presented as fail-proof and as the “ideal” form of exercise. Oftentimes, the lack of results that eventually ensues can create a perpetual sense of failure.
It is therefore critically important to understand that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to exercise, either. However, by incorporating metabolic testing and measuring the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to all of its working muscles, Cenegenics® identifies your body’s most ideal starting point and pushes you to the appropriate intensities that you are physically capable of achieving, while also allowing for sufficient recovery. The use of scientific, evidence-based exercise allows you to see results from month-to-month, building your confidence and motivation while preventing injury.
Moreover, our program properly balances all biologics with nutraceutical and hormone supplementation, ensuring the patient’s body is able to most effectively address any underlying health conditions with powerful nutritional dietary modifications and time-efficient exercise regimens.
A Pillar of Cenegenics® Success: Close Monitoring and Consultation
What Can I Expect from the Cenegenics® Program?
While the evidence-based science and the experience of specialized Cenegenics® physicians remains unmatched, another key difference of the Cenegenics® program that delivers results for our patients is our close monitoring and consultation. Patients receive unlimited access to their full Cenegenics® clinical team, including a Cenegenics® age management doctor and clinical specialists in nutrition and exercise.
Our physicians are highly trained in the Cenegenics® science, and only 1% of trainees ultimately meet the requirements needed to become a Cenegenics® Physician Partner. These medical experts collaborate extensively on complex patient health issues, and are continuously receiving clinical updates as proven, evidence-based science evolves. In doing so, they ensure each patient’s program is appropriately optimized for their individual needs, while also remaining cutting-edge.
New patients often engage in a weekly dialogue with their clinical team to discuss progress, experience, and how they are feeling so modifications can be made, as needed, to optimize the program. The Cenegenics® physician will prescribe ongoing lab work to closely monitor the body’s response to the custom-prescribed nutraceuticals and hormone supplementation, if needed, and make adjustments accordingly.
Patients will have multiple labs ran throughout the year and annual reevaluations so that we can closely monitor and manage their progress towards their wellness optimization goals and identify any emerging risk factors for proactive intervention. Additionally, it allows our treatments to dynamically adjust when clinically indicated.
Does Cenegenics® Work?
Proven Results
Cenegenics® has had over 35,000 patients on its programs. We are highly trusted within the medical community, as 25% of our patients are physicians and their families.
Based on an internal study, our average patient reduced their body fat index by 30% in the first year on the Cenegenics® program**.
Of course, the benefits of Cenegenics® extend far beyond weight loss alone. Patients who choose Cenegenics® can be confident in the fact that any health issues that arise will be detected early for preventive treatment, and that the Cenegenics® Physician Leadership will continuously monitor all evidence-based scientific developments to ensure their fully-customized program is advanced and in line with emerging best practices.
You can see what our patients are saying about their Cenegenics® experience:
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About the cenegenics® physician, Dr. Eye
A Doctor Who Understands
Dr. Eye has been practicing medicine since 1972 and is certified in multiple specialties
Dr. Earl Eye has practiced medicine for 40 years in Jacksonville and Atlanta, and is board certified in 5 medical specialties, including advanced training in Age-Management medicine. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Florida. He went on to earn fellowships in Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care. From 1973 to 2008 he was the senior partner of a 6-physician private practice and held privileges at 9 area hospitals, where he made rounds. He also taught as associate professor at the University of Florida. Currently, Dr. Eye is the President and Chief Medical Officer of Cenegenics® Elite Health Jacksonville and a Partner at Cenegenics® Atlanta. He is also an Institute Physician at Cenegenics’® corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, NV.
During his career, Dr. Eye became increasingly discontented with the current medical model's fix-it-when-it’s-broken, disease-focused approach. In 2004, he transitioned out of conventional medicine and into preventative medicine. His current practice offers comprehensive, individulaized, precision medicine and concierge service to help men and women live healthier, more vibrant lives. This consists of a blend of hormone optimization, nutraceutical supplementation, and advanced exercise and nutrition counseling.
Most recently, Dr. Eye has added Shockwave Therapy to his Jacksonville and Atlanta practices to help men and women regain and optimize their sexual functioning. And, he's performing next-generation Regenerative Medicine treatments, utilizing Wharton's jelly-derived stem cells and exosomes. These treatments helps patients repair, rebuild and rejuvenate their own human tissue by supercharging the body’s natural healing process.
key resources
This guide was produced with contributions from the following key resources:
The Cenegenics® Education and Research Foundation
The Textbook of Age Management Medicine Volume 1: Mastering Healthy Aging Nutrition, Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy
The Cenegenics® Education and Research Foundation
The Textbook of Age Management Medicine Volume 2: Mastering Healthy Aging Nutrition, Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Textbook Authors
Jeffrey Park Leake, M.D., CPT
Dr. Jeffrey Park Leake is a Partner and Director of Education at Cenegenics® Elite Health specializing in age management and wellness. Having trained hundreds of physicians worldwide, Dr. Leake is also the Director of Education for the Clinical Strategies for Healthy Aging course at AMM Educational Foundation.
Todd David Greenberg, M.D., CSCS
Dr. Todd Greenberg is a practicing physician with a broad range of expertise, including wellness, exercise, sports injuries, and MRI of sports injuries. He is a Radiology Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington.
Sources
[1] American Family Physician, aafp.org, 2018.
[2] Centers for Disease Control, cdc.gov, 2018.
[3] Heart Disease Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.
[4] From Vulnerable Plaque to Vulnerable Patient—Part III: Executive Summary of the Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Education (SHAPE) Task Force Report, The American Journal of Cardiology, 2006.
[5] Deformation Field Morphometry Reveals Age-Related Structural Differences between the Brains of Adults up to 51 years, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2008.
[6] Global Genes®, globalgenes.org, 2015.
[7] Urinary albumin excretion in a population based sample of 1011 middle aged non-diabetic subjects, Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 1993.
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