How to Look 40 Years Older
Written by Kathryn Savage
No, this isn’t Bravo’s latest reality TV show, it’s the story of one man who, after living a lifestyle that included 3 packs of cigarettes a day, ten beers a night, followed by several shots of liquor and various drugs, managed to turn his insides 40 years older. In a recent BBC report, the man, Stewart Burton, agreed to undergo a “living autopsy” on a BBC reality show called Make My Body Younger, where “every inch” of him was examined and tested, including his vital organs and sperm count. What did doctors and scientists find inside Stewart? 
His Brain
Stewart, though only 25, after performing several cognitive tests, has a brain age of 68.
Fertility
Normal fertility allows for sperm with less than 70 percent deformed heads. Stewart's fertility indicates his sperm had 91 percent deformed heads. This would make his chances of impregnating a woman very difficult.
Getting back on track
The results of Stewart’s tests underscore the impact diet and lifestyle play on a persons health and longevity. After Stewart received the results from his “autopsy” he was assigned a live-in doctor who helped him limit his alcohol intake and make healthier lifestyle choices.
The results?
Stewart was reexamined after improving his lifestyle and his brain functioned at the level of a teenager, (age 18). His sperm count returned to a normal deformity range.
Change takes time...
The doctor who helped Stewart improve his lifestyle habits commented on the importance of making lifestyle changes organically, instead of all at once. For many people, it is better to limit your alcohol intake, for instance, rather than stopping cold turkey because the desire to repeat the behavior can become so overwhelming. Stewart’s live-in doctor, Dr. Hayward, explains to BBC reporters, "He (Stewart) may be more likely to fall off the wagon if he tries to cut out absolutely everything." Instead, Dr. Hayward encourages patients to make healthy changes, but take them one at a time, and be patient with yourself during the process.
Is there a not so healthy behavior you’d like to send packing? Give it a shot! You might just turn the clock back while you’re at it!
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