Chapter 16NUTRITION AND AGING: THE ADULT YEARS

Life Expectancy in Canada

How Long Can You Expect to be Healthy?

What Causes Aging? As organisms become older, the number of cells they

contain decreases and the function of the remaining cells declines.

As tissues and organs lose cells, the ability of the organism to maintain homeostasis decreases.

Loss of cells occurs throughout life but is not felt for a long time, as organisms begin with reserve capacity.

In young adults, the reserve capacity of organs is four to ten times that required to sustain life.

As a person ages, reserve capacity decreases and the effects of aging become evident.

What Affects the Rate of Aging?

Changes in Diet Quality as Canadians Age

CHEI scores increase with age

Nutrient Needs for Older Adults

Factors that Increase the Risk of Malnutrition

Consequences of Malnutrition

Physiological Changes that Occur with Aging It is difficult to determine which changes that occur as we

age are inevitable and which can be attributed to disease states. Some of the changes seen in aging can include:

Sensory decline Macular degeneration Cataracts Periodontal disease Atrophic gastritis Decline in size and functioning of liver and kidneys Increase in body fat, decrease in lean body tissue Reduced hormone levels Decrease in mobility Dementia Alzheimer’s disease

Nutrient and Drug Interactions

Nutrient and Drug Interactions

Keeping Older Adults Healthy There are a variety of social and economic

changes that often accompany aging. These factors are interrelated and can affect nutritional status by decreasing the motivation to shop for, prepare and enjoy food and beverages.

These changes can include: Income level Dependent living Depression

Keeping Older Adults Healthy

Keeping Older Adults Healthy

Physical Activity for Older Adults

National Nutrition Programs for Older Adults Canada does not have a comprehensive national nutrition

program for older adults. Programs that do exist focus on the provision of food to needy seniors and are organized in local communities. The most common programs include congregate dinners and home meal delivery (e.g. Meals on Wheels).

To help identify elderly persons who may need nutritional assistance, Canadian researchers have developed the Seniors in the Community Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN). The questionnaire asks seniors about weight changes, appetite, swallowing problems, meal preparation and other eating related activities that impact nutrition.

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of this work beyond that permitted by Access Copyright (The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency) is unlawful. Requests for further information should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. The purchaser may make back-up copies for his or her own use only and not for distribution or resale. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or damages caused by the use of these programs or from the use of the information contained herein.

.

Copyright 2012, John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.