NUTRITION AND THE SCIENCE OF AGING:

CHANGING NUTRITION NEEDS

KATIE M. DODD, MS, RDN, CSG, LD, FAND

December 12, 2019

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NUTRITION AND THE SCIENCE OF AGING- PART 1

• Katie M. Dodd, MS, RDN, CSG, LD, FAND

• The Geriatric Dietitian

• Medford, OR
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AGENDA

• Physiology of Aging

• Biological changes

• Functional changes

• Nutrition concerns

• Malnutrition

• Nutrition screening

• Identifying Risk

• Take Home Messages

• Call to Action
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of these webinars, the 

participant should be able to:

• Understand the biological, physical and functional

changes associated with aging

• Recognize the changing nutrition needs in the older adult

• Identify risk factors for malnutrition in older adults

• Implement practical techniques to improve nutrition

status in older adults

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PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING

GI Tract

• Xerostomia

• Poor dentition

• Altered taste/smell

• ↓ esophageal reflexes

• ↑ gallstone formation

• ↓ glucose tolerance

• ↓ insulin & beta-cell

• ↓ metabolic capacity of the

liver

• ↓ hepatic drug clear

• ↑ Fecal incontinence

Other Organs

• ↓ skin elasticity

• ↑ AMD & hearing loss

• Thickening of heart

• ↓ breathing capacity

• ↓ GFR, renal blood flow

• ↓ sensory perceptions

• ↓ cognition, memory

• Loss of LBM

• Degeneration of joints

• Decalcification of bone
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BIOLOGICAL CHANGES

• Dry mouth

• Dental health

• Swallowing

• Taste

• Altered taste/smell

• Flavor matters

• Organs work differently (diminished)
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PHYSICAL CHANGES

• Decreased skin elasticity

• ↑ risk of pressure injury & skin tears

• Loss of muscle

• Sarcopenia

• Weaker bones

• ↑ fracture risk

• Fall risk
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FUNCTIONAL CHANGES

• Mobility

• Weakness

• Prepare meals

• Eat independently

• Poor detention

• Dentures

• Chewing difficulty

• Decrease in cognition and memory

• Impacts dietary intake

• Independence
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HEALTHY AGING

• How you live affects how you age:

• Nutrition & Hydration

• Physical Activity

• Sleeping Habits

• Mental Health

• Lifestyle Choice (ex. smoking, drinking)

• Never too late to make changes
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POLL

Approximately 10-30% of older adults are 

unable to absorb food sources of this nutrient:

a. Vitamin B-6

b. Vitamin B-12

c. Calcium

d. Vitamin D
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CHANGING NUTRITION NEEDS: CONCERNS

• Key nutrients

• Protein (↑ needs)

• Fiber (↓ needs)

• Vitamin B-12

• Vitamin B-6 (↑ needs)

• Calcium (↑ needs)

• Vitamin D (↑ needs)
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CHANGING NUTRITION NEEDS: CONCERNS

• Other concerns:

• Malnutrition

• Unintended weight loss

• Muscle loss

• Maintaining independence
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MALNUTRITION

• Definition:

• An acute, subacute or

chronic state of nutrition,

in which a combination

of varying degrees of

overnutrition or

undernutrition with or

without inflammatory

activity have led to a

change in body

composition and

diminished function.
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MALNUTRITION

• Up to 1 in 2 older adults are at risk for malnutrition

• Malnutrition can cause:

• Medical complications

• Increased fall risk

• Longer hospital stays

• Readmissions to the hospital

• Loss of independence

• Death
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MALNUTRITION

Consensus Statement: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

• Characteristics recommended for the diagnosis of adult

malnutrition (2 or more):

• Insufficient energy intake

• Weight loss

• Loss of muscle mass

• Loss of subcutaneous fat

• Localized or generalized fluid accumulation

• Diminished hand-grip strength.
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UNINTENDED WEIGHT LOSS

• Unintended weight loss

• 5% in 30 days

• 7.5% in 90 days

• 10% in 180 days

• Insidious weight loss: gradual unintended

weight loss over time (i.e. 1-2 lbs monthly)

Percentage of loss= Usual Body Wt-Current Body Wt x 100

Usual Body Wt
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A WORD ON WEIGHT: BMI

• BMI: Body Mass Index

• BMI Table for Adults:

Range Category

>18.5 Underweight

18.5 - 24.9 Normal

25 - 29.9 Overweight

30+ Obese
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BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

• Meta-analysis BMI & all-cause mortality >65 years

• U-shaped relationship:

• Optimal BMI >65 years of age: 24-30

27.0- 27.9

GOOD- 24.0 30.9- GOOD

≤20.0

28% higher mortality

33- no sig. ↑ mortality

37.0-37.9- sig. ↑ mortality
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MUSCLE LOSS: SARCOPENIA

• Definition: Decline of skeletal muscle tissue with 

age.

• Major cause of: 

• Functional decline 

• Loss of independence
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MUSCLE LOSS: SARCOPENIA
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MUSCLE LOSS: SARCOPENIA

• NHANES data

• Older women w/ sarcopenia

cause mortality risk

• Independent of obesity

• CRIME Study data

• Hospitalized older adults sarcopenia associated w/

• short- term mortality (6% vs 2%)

• long-term mortality (36% vs 14%)
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POLL

How much does an UWL of >/= 5% in 30 days 

increase the likelihood of death?

a. None

b. Double

c. Triple

d. Ten-fold
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UNINTENDED WEIGHT LOSS

• UWL >/= 5% in 30 days -> 10x  death

BMI

Sarcopenia

Malnutrition Frailty

Weight Loss
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NUTRITION SCREENING

• Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA)

• Validated nutrition screening tool for elderly

• Malnourished, At Risk, Normal

• Short-form (6 questions)

• Food intake decline

• Weight loss

• Mobility

• Psychological stress or acute disease

• Neuropsychological problems

• BMI
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IDENTIFYING RISK

• Risk Factors:

• Dietary restrictions

• Catabolic illness

• Blood loss

• Poor appetite

• Dysphagia

• Polypharmacy

• Malabsorption

• Psychosocial

• Low client-activation

• Dementia

• Knowledge deficit
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TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE NUTRITION STATUS

• Identified risk: now what?

• Referral to health care team (dietitian)

• Investigate root cause

• Implement strategies to improve intake
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REFERRAL TO HEALTH CARE TEAM

• Positive nutrition screen -> referral to dietitian

• Heath care team members:

• Medical provider

• Registered dietitian

• Physical therapist

• Occupational therapist

• Speech therapist

• Psychologist

• Social worker

• Dentist

• Pharmacist
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POLL

How many older adults struggle with hunger?

a. 1 in 3

b. 1 in 6

c. 1 in 10

d. 1 in 25
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GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE: EXAMPLE

• Statistics:

• 1 in 6 older adults struggle with hunger

• 15.2 million older adults are isolated & live alone

• 9.6 million older adults are threatened by hunger

• 18.4 million are living at or near poverty

• Could one of these be the root cause?
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GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE

• Screen positive for:

• Malnutrition

• At risk for malnutrition

• Root cause:

• WHY?

• Investigate:

• Review screen & risk factors

• Utilize health care team
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GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE

• Unintended weight loss (UWL) is a symptom.

• Investigate the root cause (WHY)

• No appetite... illness, mental health, medications

• Increased nutritional needs

• Dysphagia

• Chewing problems or oral pain

• Social issues

• 1 in 4 older adults with UWL... no obvious cause can

be identified
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STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE INTAKE: EXAMPLES

Food and/or Nutrient Delivery

• Meals and Snacks

• Medical Food Supplement Therapy

• Feeding/Dining Assistance

• Managing Feeding/Dining Environment

• Nutrition-Related Medication Management

• Other
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STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE INTAKE

• Key Nutrients:

• Protein (↑ needs)

• Fiber (↓ needs)

• Vitamin B-12

• Vitamin B-6 (↑ needs)

• Calcium (↑ needs)

• Vitamin D (↑ needs)

• Next week cover:

• Needs, food sources, strategies
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STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE INTAKE

MyPlate for Older Adults

https://hnrca.tufts.edu/myplate/
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WRAPPING IT UP

Hopefully you now:

• Understand the biological, physical and functional changes

associated with aging

• Recognize the changing nutrition needs in the older adult

• Identify risk factors for malnutrition in older adults

• Implement practical techniques to improve nutrition status

in older adults

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TAKE HOME MESSAGES

• Physiology of aging is complex

• Unintended weight loss &

malnutrition are serious issues

• Complete nutrition screens

• Referrals to health care team

• Investigating root cause

• Implement strategies to

improve nutrition status
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CALL TO ACTION

• Evaluate current system for screening/assessment

• Identify areas for improvement

• Involve older adults in nutrition strategies

• Initiate change to improve nutrition
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REFERENCES

1. Niedert K, Carlson M. Nutrition Care of the Older Adult. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Chicago, IL; 2016.

2. https://www.nutritioncare.org/Malnutrition

3. Malnutrition: An Older-Adult Crisis. Defeat Malnutrition Today website.

http://defeatmalnutrition.today/sites/default/files/documents/CMKT_15_00385a_Malnutrition_Info_Graphic_

OnePage_Update_FA.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2019.

4. White, J. V., P. Guenter, and G. Jensen. "Characteristics recommended for the identification and

documentation of adult malnutrition (undernutrition)." J Acad Nutr Diet 112 (2012): 730-8.

5. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). State Operations Manual (SOM) Guidance to Surveyors for.

Long Term Care Facilities. Appendix PP. Rev. 70. 01-07.

6. Winter JE, MacInnis RJ, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Nowson CA. BMI and all-cause mortality in older adults: a metaanalysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99:875-890.

7. Batsis, J. A., et al. "Sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity and mortality in older adults: results from the National

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III." European journal of clinical nutrition 68.9 (2014): 1001-1007.

8. Vetrano, Davide L., et al. "Association of sarcopenia with short-and long-term mortality in older adults admitted

to acute care wards: results from the CRIME study." The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences

and Medical Sciences 69.9 (2014): 1154-1161.

9. Meals on Wheels America. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/factsheets/2019/2019-national/mowa2019factsheets_issue_final.pdf?sfvrsn=b92bb93b_2
QUESTIONS?
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UPCOMING TRAINING

Nutrition and the Science of Aging

• What: Part #2 - Webinar

• When: Tuesday, December 19,

2019

• To Register: Online

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THANK YOU!

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www.nutritionandaging.org

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