Page 65 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, eds. 2018. Zdravje starostnikov ▪︎ Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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ter cognitive health through nutrition problemi in izzivi v prehrani starostnikov | nutrition problems and challenges in the elderly
Saša Šajn Lekše
University of Ljubljana Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction: Food can often serve as medicine. The diet of the elderly should
be adapted to their specific needs. The physiological processes of aging also af-
fect the brain and the individual's cognitive abilities begin to decline. Certain
dietary interventions may possibly slow down this decline.
Methods: A descriptive method was used. The selected research approach
was a systematic review of the latest scientific literature in the area of nutrition-
al changes aimed to preserve the cognitive health of the elderly.
Results: Nutritional interventions are probably more effective in individuals
with poor nutritional status or as part of an integrated care for the elderly, fo-
cusing on several lifestyle factors simultaneously.
Discussion and conclusions: Nutrition for better cognitive health should in-
clude antioxidants, B complex vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids. The results of
several longitudinal studies have already indicated that certain nutrients can
prevent or slow down the progression of cognitive decline or even dementia.
However, there are few results of methodologically flawless randomized stud-
ies that would certainly confirm or disprove this hypothesis. More research is
needed in this area.
Keywords: cognitive health, aging, nutrition
63
Saša Šajn Lekše
University of Ljubljana Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction: Food can often serve as medicine. The diet of the elderly should
be adapted to their specific needs. The physiological processes of aging also af-
fect the brain and the individual's cognitive abilities begin to decline. Certain
dietary interventions may possibly slow down this decline.
Methods: A descriptive method was used. The selected research approach
was a systematic review of the latest scientific literature in the area of nutrition-
al changes aimed to preserve the cognitive health of the elderly.
Results: Nutritional interventions are probably more effective in individuals
with poor nutritional status or as part of an integrated care for the elderly, fo-
cusing on several lifestyle factors simultaneously.
Discussion and conclusions: Nutrition for better cognitive health should in-
clude antioxidants, B complex vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids. The results of
several longitudinal studies have already indicated that certain nutrients can
prevent or slow down the progression of cognitive decline or even dementia.
However, there are few results of methodologically flawless randomized stud-
ies that would certainly confirm or disprove this hypothesis. More research is
needed in this area.
Keywords: cognitive health, aging, nutrition
63
