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Healthy Aging-Nutrition Matters: Start Early and Screen Often
Susan B Roberts1, Rachel E Silver1, Sai Krupa Das1
1Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)
|April 10, 2021
Summary
Healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight in older age prevent age-related diseases and conditions. Nutrient-dense, plant-based diets are crucial for healthy aging and disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing time spent in poor health during end-of-life stages.
- Aging populations face a higher burden of chronic diseases and functional impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on the role of nutrition and healthy weight in preventing age-related diseases.
- To assess the effectiveness of dietary interventions for established aging-associated conditions.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of consistent evidence linking healthy dietary patterns and weight to aging health outcomes.
- Analysis of randomized clinical trials on nutrition interventions for aging conditions.
Main Results:
- Healthy dietary patterns and weight maintenance prevent major aging diseases like noncommunicable diseases, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline.
- Nutrition interventions can slow or treat established aging-related conditions.
- Middle-aged and older adults often have poor dietary habits, consuming nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods.
Conclusions:
- Healthy nutrition is critically important for healthy aging, more so than commonly recognized.
- Nutrient-dense, plant-based diets with a moderate glycemic load may surpass current US dietary guidelines for older adults.
- Public health initiatives, screening, and nutrition prescriptions are vital for a national strategy against unhealthy aging.
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