A method for the treatment and prophylaxis of conditions of aging in humans, such conditions of aging associated with a decreased presence of one or more cell-specific carbonic anhydrase enzymes. Such conditions include chronic neurodegenerative conditions including dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. The method comprises administering to the patient a pharmaceutically effective, non-toxic amount of a compound that increases the presence of one or more cell-specific carbonic anhydrase enzymes whose levels are reduced in the patient. Such compound may be the cell-specific carbonic anhydrase enzyme, a compound that when absorbed by the body reacts or dissociates to form the cell-specific carbonic anhydrase enzyme, or a compound that promotes the natural generation of the cell-specific carbonic anhydrase enzyme within the body.