Older Adults

• Aging

  A natural phenomenon that reflects physiological changes the body undergoes over a lifetime. It is a heterogeneous process where everyone ages differently, affected by genetics, lifestyle, and disease.
• Longevity depends on 10% access to high-quality health care, 19% genetics, 20% environment, and 51% lifestyle factors
• Besides not smoking, diet and exercise contribute most to longevity
• Animal studies


  • An energy-restricted diet that meets micronutrient needs can prolong healthy life in laboratory mice and rats
• Studies of caloric restriction in primates have shown conflicting results
• Sarcopenia


  Age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function
• Lean body mass decreases by 2-3% per decade from age 30-70
• Mean body weight increases gradually during adulthood, peaks between 50-59 years, then starts slowly dropping around age 70
• Taste and smell senses

  Decline with age, with women retaining their sense of smell better than men
• Oral health

  Depends on gastrointestinal secretions, skeletal systems, mucus membrane, muscles, taste buds, and olfactory nerves
• Appetite and thirst


  Hunger and satiety cues, as well as thirst-regulating mechanisms, weaken with age
• Nutritional risk factors for older adults

  • Hunger, poverty, low food/nutrient intake
  • Functional disability
  • Social isolation or living alone
  • Urban and rural demographic areas
  • Depression, dementia, and dependency
  • Poor dentition and oral health
  • Diet-related acute or chronic diseases
  • Polypharmacy, minority, and advanced age
• MyPlate for older adults

  Dietary recommendations that account for the decreased calorie needs but maintained nutrient needs of older adults
• As age increases, the number of calories required decreases
• Nutrient recommendations for older adults

  • Energy sources: carbohydrate, fiber, protein, fats, cholesterol
  • Fluid recommendations
• Nutrients of concern for older adults

  Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B12, Folate, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium
• Nutrient supplements

  Reasons for use: lack of appetite, diseases/conditions affecting absorption, poor diet, avoidance of food groups, substances affecting diet/absorption/metabolism
• White, female, with more education and higher incomes are most likely to take supplements
• Older adults are vulnerable to foodborne illness due to compromised immune systems
• Physical activity recommendations for older adults

  • Builds lean body mass, maintains balance and flexibility, contributes to aerobic capacity and overall fitness, improves cognitive performance
• Physical activity guidelines for older adults

  • Muscle strengthening 2+ days/week
  • At least 150 minutes/week moderate intensity aerobic activity
  • Drink water when exercising
  • Ensure adequate protein for muscle building
• Nutrition education for older adults

  Involves commitment, cognitive processing, capability, and confidence to learn new nutrition habits
• Governmental nutrition programs for older adults

  • SNAP, Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, Commodity Supplemental Foods, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Ryan White CARE Act, Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs
• Aging boomers are driving longevity and aging research
• Older adults want to stay healthy until death, but the prevalence of chronic illnesses increases with age
• Quality of life


  Measure of life satisfaction on factors like social contacts, economic security, and functional status
• Medical nutrition therapy is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that can encourage health-promoting food choices
• Good health habits contribute to delayed mortality and higher functional status in older adults
• Heart disease in older adults

  • Leading cause of death, modifiable risk factors, prevalence varies by age/race/gender, risk factors less predictive in old age
• Nutritional remedies for cardiovascular disease

  Assertive treatment can modify the course of heart disease at any age, nutrition interventions not inherently different for older vs younger adults
• Types of stroke

  • Transient ischemic attacks
  • Ischemia
  • Aneurysm
  • Thrombus
  • Cerebral embolism
  • Carotid artery disease
  • Atrial fibrillation
• Prevalence of stroke is 8% in females and 9% in males aged 65 and older
• Causes of stroke

  • Blocked arteries
  • Easily clotting blood cells
  • Weak heartbeat unable to circulate blood
• Quick recognition and treatment of stroke results in faster treatment and recovery
• Risk factors for stroke

  • Age
  • Long-term high blood pressure
  • Family history
  • African American, Asian, and Hispanic ethnicity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Comorbid conditions
  • Living in poverty
  • Excessive use of alcohol
  • Drug abuse
• Nutritional remedies for stroke

  Increasing fruit and vegetable intake to normalize blood pressure
• Hypertension

  High blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Prevalence of hypertension is higher in women over 64 years of age compared to men under 45 years of age
• Stroke

  • Loss of speech and ability to walk and eat
  • Quick recognition and treatment results in faster treatment and recovery
• Stroke risk factors

  • Age
  • Long-term high blood pressure
  • Family history
  • African American, Asian, and Hispanic ethnicity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Comorbid conditions
  • Living in poverty
  • Excessive use of alcohol
  • Drug abuse