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Related Experiment Videos

Anorexia, body composition, and ageing.

J E Morley1

  • 1GRECC, VA Medical Center, St Louis, Missouri, USA. rinckerv@slu.edu

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|January 11, 2000
PubMed
Summary
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Physiological anorexia of aging leads to decreased food intake and body mass decline, including muscle loss (sarcopenia). Many causes of weight loss in older adults, like depression and illness, are treatable.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Aging is associated with a natural decline in food intake, known as physiological anorexia of aging.
  • This decline contributes to body mass reduction, including loss of adipose tissue and muscle mass (sarcopenia), particularly after age 70.
  • Factors influencing this include gastrointestinal changes, elevated leptin levels (especially in men), and central nervous system neurotransmitter alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifactorial causes of reduced food intake and body mass loss in the aging population.
  • To identify the physiological mechanisms underlying anorexia of aging and sarcopenia.
  • To highlight the impact of illness, hormonal changes, and psychological factors on weight loss in older adults.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of existing literature on aging, appetite regulation, body composition, and weight loss.
  • Analysis of factors such as gastrointestinal function, hormonal influences (leptin, testosterone), neurotransmitter systems, and inflammatory markers (cytokines).
  • Examination of the role of depression and dieting in age-related weight loss.

Main Results:

  • Physiological anorexia of aging involves complex interactions affecting appetite and satiety.
  • Sarcopenia in older men may be partly linked to declining testosterone levels.
  • Illness-induced cytokines contribute to anorexia and protein wasting, leading to cachexia.
  • Depression is identified as a primary driver of weight loss in the elderly.
  • Dieting in older adults can result in loss of both skeletal tissue and fat mass, risking the 'fat frail' state.

Conclusions:

  • The decline in food intake and body mass during aging is multifactorial, involving physiological, hormonal, and psychological elements.
  • While some causes of cachexia in older individuals are treatable, interventions are crucial.
  • Understanding these factors is essential for preventing malnutrition and maintaining health in the aging population.