Dr. Marcela Young won’t hesitate when asked her age. At 66, the Greenville-based, world-renowned endocrinologist, OB/GYN, and internal medicine practitioner knows that true biological age matters more than the age on your driver’s license.
Young founded Greenville Age Management Medical Institute (GAMMI), a practice dedicated to personalized medical care focusing on detecting, preventing, and reversing diseases that contribute to aging.
Young starts with a blood test that determines biological age, or how well a patient is aging in comparison with other people of the same chronological age. She examines telomeres, which are on the end of chromosomes and protect our genetic information. Because of metabolic, hormonal, and nutritional deficiencies, the telomeres shorten during aging. This causes destabilization of genes, which is the root of aging and diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
“The goal is to slow down or reverse the shortening of telomeres and be healthy until the last day of our life,” Young says. “What we are practicing is precision medicine. There is no magic treatment. Everyone wants to know what their biological age is, but now what do we do with that information?”
“Our bodies are like a car,” she adds. “When we get older, we need a tune up, and need to bring our bodies back to optimal functioning levels.”
Young explains that women should start a plan for anti-aging around 35, when the body moves toward estrogen dominance. Women are being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, depression, and a host of other diseases, but are often simply suffering from hormonal imbalance.
Men’s testosterone falls 3-5% each year, causing reduced sex drive, lethargy, and often depression. Young recommends that men get their testosterone checked regularly after 40 and maintain a healthy range.
Up to 95% of the GAMMI program’s medical tests are covered by insurance.
“Any items not covered by insurance we pay with our health savings plan,” says Kim Dunn, a patient of Dr. Young’s since 2018. “I feel the return on investment is 100% worth the expense. People are shocked when they find out how old I am.”
Young’s joy is traveling the globe sharing her anti-aging research. She was one of the founders of Neolife Clinic, a pioneer in age management medicine in Madrid, and in May 2018 started her clinic in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with GAMMI-AR.
The clinic in Argentina is close to her heart because it is where she attended medical school. It was important for her to get back there someday to give back.
Dr. Young has seen firsthand that this process works. Her husband, a retired surgeon, also follows the program. “If I’m going to stay healthy and live longer, I want him there with me,” she says.
For more information about GAMMI and Dr. Young’s work in the anti-aging field, visit http://www.greenvilleagemanagement.com/.
Patient profile
Patients: Kim and Scott Dunn
Her complaints: night sweats, sleeplessness, weight gain, lack of energy, and aging skin.
His complaints: inconsistent weight, fatigue, overall declining health.
Started GAMMI program: Kim, 2018 and Scott in 2019,
Results: improved health, improved energy, healthier weight, sustained muscle mass, better sleep, and more youthful appearance.
Dr. Young and the couple say they have set back the clock almost a decade by using Young’s method of anti-aging.
Dr. Young’s top age-fighting tips
- Practice good sleep habits
- Avoid toxins including tobacco, and limit alcohol intake
- Manage stress levels
- Stick to a Mediterranean diet
- Exercise frequently
