Elderly

• • Life expectancy: Average number of years lived by people in a given society
  • Life span: Max. number of years of life attainable by a member of a species (e.g. Human: 110 - 120 years)
  • Longevity: Long duration of life
• Aged groups:

  • Young old (65 – 74 years)

  • Old (75 – 84 years)

  • Oldest old (> 85 years)
• Definition of Aging

  • A normal (inevitable) process: Functional and Structural (Wrinkles, Muscle decrease) changes
  • A progressive post-maturational deterioration
  • Leads to disease and mortality
  • Projected increase in the world’s population
• i) Usual Aging

  • Extrinsic factors heighten the effects of intrinsic aging processes (Normal function decline)
• ii) Successful Aging

  • Extrinsic factors counteract intrinsic aging (Little/ No functional loss)
  • 3 characteristics:

  • Low risk of disease & disease-related disability

  • High mental & physical function

  • Active engagement with life
• Contributors to Nutritional Problems *

  Physical factors

  1. Declining absorptive & metabolic capacities
  2. Poor dental health
  3. Physical disability
  4. Chronic disease & poor appetite
• Contributors to Nutritional Problems *

  Socioeconomic & Psychological factors

  1. Low income
  2. Social isolation
  3. Loss of interest in food/ cooking
  4. Limited nutritional knowledge
• Nutritional Intervention for Immune Deficiency *

  • Milk protein: Increase bactericidal activity (Killing bacteria)
  • Probiotics: Increase tumoricidal activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
  • Micronutrients (vit E, Zinc)
• • Vitamins and Minerals: Maintain immune competence
  • Supplementation may reverse impaired immune responses
• • vit E: Increase T cell response
  • Role of vit E on immune system:

  • Scavenges free radicals

  • Inhibits initiation & chain propagation of lipid peroxidation

  • Protects cellular structure against stress damage
• Stems cells and Aging

  • Hematopoietic stem cells in aged people --> Decrease proportion of functional stem cells (in bone marrow) --> Less potential to generate T cells, B cells, myeloid precursor cells