6 ^th Asia Pacific Geriatrics and Gerontology Congress

Biography

Biography: GAURAV POPLI

Abstract

Ageing (and related diseases) may be described as a process which results from impaired immunological, genetic, neurological or endocrinological functions. Oxidative mechanisms may play an important role in the ageing process. It is important, therefore, to emphasize the relationship between health and nutrition in the elderly  According to WHO,nutrition is the intake of food considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs.It is especially important to give attention to it,in the elderly as the nutritional needs of the body alters because of physiological,medical,social,psychological changes in the old age which makes food and nutrition and it's intake and acceptance in elderly as challenge.There has to be a constant monitoring of the requirment of the type of nutrients on the need of the body and lifestyle with the progressing age.More attention has to given  socializing meeting people,eating in restaurants in weekends,regular medical check ups of heart,kidney,bones.Because of food insecurity status, older people consumed less than the recommended dietary allowance for eight nutrients. Food-insecure elderly persons had significantly lower intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, saturated fat, niacin, riboflavin, vitamins B-6 and B-12, magnesium, iron and zinc, as well as lower skinfold thickness. In addition, food-insecure elderly persons were 2.33 times more likely to report fair/poor health status and had higher nutritional risk. These results indicate that food-insecure elderly persons have poorer dietary intake, nutritional status and health status than do food-secure elderly persons. It is necessary to ensure the nutritional well-being of all elderly persons who are at nutritional and health risk, including those who are food insecure and have even poorer nutritional and health status than those who are food secure.In old age even a  rich to rich of a diet filled with healthy nutrient and tasty diet will not be accepted or relished by a human body because of alteration in body systems.Diet and nutrition play important roles in maintaining health and preventing disease . This is especially important for elderly adults, for whom proper nutrition plays a crucial role in helping them maintain good health and functioning. Many older adults are at increased risk of inadequate nutritional intakes due to lower intakes of energy and other nutrients. Other risk factors for poor nutrition include disease, physical limitations and chewing difficulties, polypharmacy, living alone, lack of transportation and limited income. Although many seniors use dietary supplements, the supplement users often already have adequate dietary intakes.