Chapter 12 - Nutrition through the Life Span: Later Adulthood

Nutrition for Health and Health Care, 5th Edition
DeBruyne ■ Pinna © Cengage Learning 2014
Nutrition through
the Life Span:
Later Adulthood
Chapter 12

Introduction
• U.S. statistics
– Majority of Americans
• Middle aged: 65+ years old
– Fastest-growing age group
• People older than 85
– Life expectancy: 78 years
– What is the currently estimated life span?

Nutrition and Longevity
• Life expectancy
– Estimated 70 to 80 percent of the average
person’s life expectancy
• May depend on individual health-related behaviors
– Genes
• Remaining 20 to 30 percent
• Role of nutrition
– Improve the quality of life in later years

Nutrition and Longevity (cont’d.)
• Slowing the aging process
– Lifestyle habits that influence physiological age
• Eating well-balanced meals
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Not smoking
• Not using alcohol, or using it in moderation
• Sleeping regularly and adequately

– Active older adults
• Weigh less; have greater flexibility, more endurance,
better balance, and better health; and live longer
– Ideal situation: daily activity
• Intense enough to prevent muscle atrophy and to
speed up the heartbeat and respiration rate
– Follow exercise guidelines for older adults
(Table 12-1)

– Restricting energy intake
• Moderate energy restriction (80 to 90 percent of
usual intake): may be beneficial in preventing chronic
diseases

• Relationships between nutrition and disease
– Appropriate energy intake
• Helps prevent obesity, diabetes, and related
cardiovascular diseases
• May influence the development of some forms of
cancer
– Adequate intakes of essential nutrients
• Prevent deficiency diseases

– Variety in food intake, as well as ample intakes
of certain fruits and vegetables
• May be protective against certain types of cancer
– Moderate sodium intake and adequate intakes
of potassium, calcium, and other minerals
• Help prevent hypertension

– An adequate calcium intake throughout life
• Helps protect against osteoporosis
• Cataracts: ultimately lead to blindness
– Dietary factors
• Carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E
• Correlation with obesity

Nutrition-Related Concerns during
Late Adulthood (cont’d.)
• Macular degeneration
– Preventive factors may include supplements
• Omega-3 fatty acid DHA
• B vitamins: folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12
• Carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin
• Arthritis
– Osteoarthritis
• Connection with being overweight

• Arthritis
– Rheumatoid arthritis
• Immune system mistakenly attacks the bone
coverings
• Some individuals: benefit from Mediterranean-type
diet
• The aging brain
– Blood supply decreases
– Number of neurons diminishes

• The aging brain
– Nutrient deficiencies
• May contribute to the loss of memory and cognition
• May be diminished or delayed through diet
– Alzheimer’s disease
• Number afflicted: expected to triple by 2050
• Compare the signs of Alzheimer’s and typical age-
related changes (Table 12-3)

• Alzheimer’s disease
– Primary risk factor: age
– Exact cause remains unknown
– Brain develops senile plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles

Energy and Nutrient Needs during
Late Adulthood
• Difficulty of setting nutrition standards
– Individual differences
• Become more pronounced as people grow older
– Different chronic diseases
– Different medications

• Energy needs
– Decline with advancing age
• Reduced activity
• Basal metabolic rate declines
• Protein needs
– With lower total kcalories, should be a greater
percentage of diet for older adults

• Carbohydrate
– Ample amounts to prevent protein use for
energy
• Fiber
– Role in alleviating constipation
• Fat: moderate intake
– Enhance flavors
– Provide essential fatty acids

• Water recommendations
– Women: 9 cups per day
– Men: 13 cups per day
• Vitamins
– Vitamin D RDA during late adulthood
• 15 μg/day (51–70 yr)
• 20 μg/day (>70 yr)

• Vitamins
– Vitamin B12
• Deficiency associated with poor cognition, anemia,
and other devastating neurological effects
– Folate
• RDA during late adulthood: 400 μg/day

• Minerals
– Iron
• Deficiency may occur with low food energy intakes
and other factors
– Zinc
• Deficiency: can depress appetite and blunt sense
of taste
• Absorption impaired by many medications

• Minerals
– Calcium
• Women particularly: below recommendations
• Nutrient supplements
– Elderly people: often benefit from a balanced
low-dose vitamin and mineral supplement
– Supplements to foods: not substitutes

• A summary of the nutrient concerns of
aging (Table 12-5)
• Strategies for growing old healthfully
(Table 12-6)

• Effects of drugs on nutrients
– Most drugs
• Interact with one or more nutrients in several ways
– Alcohol
• Most common drug affecting nutrition

Food Choices and Eating Habits
of Older Adults
• Individual preferences
– Influenced by familiarity, taste, and health
beliefs
• Meal setting
– Shared meals may enhance appetite
• Depression
– May result in loss of appetite and desire to
cook

of Older Adults
• Food assistance programs (Table 12-7)
– Older Americans Act (OOA) Nutrition Program
• Food and nutrition services for older adults
• Meals for singles
– Challenges of purchasing, storing, and
preparing food

of Older Adults
– Risk of foodborne illness
• Greater for older adults
– Budget considerations
• Buying the right amount so food is not wasted;
shelf life of foods; foods that require preparation
versus ready-to-serve; freezer space; etc.

of Older Adults
– Creative options
• Serve same food in different ways
• Enjoy meal companionship
• “How To” Turn Convenience Foods into Nutritious
Meals

Chapter 12 - Nutrition through the Life Span: Later Adulthood

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