Continuous tremors from such conditions as Parkinson's disease may cause weight loss by markedly raising the metabolic rate. Depression is one of the most common reversible causes of weight loss in the elderly. Depressed elderly persons are more likely to lose weight than depressed younger persons. Some very old persons may stop eating because they have lost the joy of living but are not clinically depressed. Loneliness can diminish the desire to prepare meals.
Poverty can also cause low food intake.
Problems with shopping and food preparation may result in insufficient food being available in the home. Abnormal attitudes about food intake and body image are not rare among the underweight elderly. When these abnormal attitudes are associated with severe weight loss, the condition is called anorexia tardive. Paranoia and mania may have a late-life onset and are also associated with weight loss. Dementia usually results in weight loss because the person forgets to eat.