Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics

Weight loss may benefit older adults with obesity. However, it is unknown whether individuals with different frailty phenotypes have different outcomes following weight loss. Community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 ( n  = 53) with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 were recruited for a six-month, single-arm, technology-based weight loss study. A 45-item frailty index identified frailty status using subjective and objective measures from a baseline geriatric assessment. At baseline, n  = 22 participants were classified as pre-frail (41...

Dietary assessments are important clinical tools used by Registered Dietitians (RDs). Current methods pose barriers to accurately assess the nutritional intake of older adults due to age-related increases in risk for cognitive decline and more complex health histories. Our qualitative study explored whether implementing Voice assistant systems (VAS) could improve current dietary recall from the perspective of 20 RDs. RDs believed the implementing VAS in dietary assessments of older adults could potentially improve patient accuracy in reporting food intake, recalling portion sizes, and increasing patient-provider efficiency during clinic visits...

Factors allowing rural, community-dwelling 80+ year-olds to thrive remain unexplored. Isolation can impact this vulnerable population. In this study, patients were prospectively surveyed for age, gender, cohabitation (self, spouse, family) and location (suburban, rural, and isolated). Mini-nutritional assessment short form (MNA-SF) and BMI were obtained. A p < 0.05 represented statistical significance. Patients (n = 167) were mostly female (120; 71.9%) with an average overweight BMI (26...

The Congregate Nutrition Services support efforts to keep older Americans independent and engaged in their communities. We examined participants' self-reported reasons for initially attending the congregate meals program and whether reasons differed by participant characteristics. Descriptive statistics and tests of differences were used to compare participants ( n  = 1,072). Individuals attended congregate meals for several reasons, with the top two being socialization (36.3%) and age- or health-related reasons (18...

We aimed to examine the association of food consumption patterns, measured by dietary diversity score (DDS) or food consumption score (FCS), with handgrip strength (HGS) among adults aged ≥55 years in Indonesia. This is a cross-sectional study involving 4351 middle-aged and older adults from the Indonesian Family Life Survey Fifth Wave (IFLS-5), collected in 2014-2015. A weighted linear regression model was used to examine the association of DDS or FCS with HGS in crude and adjusted models. In the adjusted models and compared to those with low DDS or poor FCS, those with medium/high DDS and borderline/acceptable FCS were associated with a higher mean of HGS...

While food and eating are important determinants of health, there is limited information on how they affect quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to understand (1) the factors that impact QOL, (2) the effect of food and eating on QOL, from the perspective of community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-five older adults completed semi-structured interviews. The constant comparative method was used to assign codes to participant's responses and organize them into categories, which were used to form a conceptual framework...

This exploratory study aimed to assess associations of baseline nutritional status and in-hospital step count with muscle quantity, quality, and function. Seventy-nine participants aged ≥70 years (mean age 79.1 years, 44.3% female) were recruited (elective colorectal surgery, emergency abdominal surgery, and general medical patients with infections). Baseline nutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment) and in-hospital step count (Fitbit Inspire devices) were assessed. Ultrasound quadriceps, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and physical function were assessed at baseline and 7 (±2) days and 13 (±1) weeks post-admission/post-operatively...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between nutritional status assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) and activities of daily living (ADL) after 1 year and changes in ADL among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This study included 95 community-dwelling older adults using outpatient rehabilitation (74.7% female). ADL was assessed using the Barthel index (BI), and the MNA-SF was used to assess nutritional status...

This study evaluated the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and factors associated with MCI among older adults in a rural area of Indonesia. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural area of East Java, Indonesia. Four hundred and twenty-seven older adults aged ≥60 years were included in the study. MCI was assessed using the Brain Health Test Cognitive Tool. Data related to possible risk factors were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. The indirect body mass index was determined based on ulnar length...

This study investigated the effect of nutrition education program on protein and nutrient intake, physical performance, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years). The participants were randomized in clusters to intervention (IG, n = 51) and control (CG, n = 45) groups. Those in IG took part in the Eating for Strong Aging education program consisting of nutrition education in peer groups, written materials, and personal advice...

Understanding the factors that augment optimal health during aging is critical as the US older adult population is increasing. Most research about food insecurity, nutritional risk, and perceived health among older adults are in urban areas or congregate living facilities. Thus, the purpose of this project was to study the relationships among these factors, plus activities of daily living, in community-dwelling older adults in a medium-sized city. Using a qualitative-quantitative study design, a cross-sectional survey was completed by 167 low-income senior apartment residents...

This cross-sectional study assessed the nutrition and physical activity (PA) needs, practices, and programming preferences of adults ages 40+ years from seven states ( n  = 1,250). Respondents were mostly educated, White, food-secure, adults ages 60+ years. Many were married, suburban-residing, and interested in health programming. By self-report most respondents were "at nutritional risk" (59.3%), in "somewhat good health" (32.3%), and sedentary (49.2%). One-third reported PA intention in the next two months...

Malnutrition in older people is still an unsolved issue. Clinical nurses have a key role in malnutrition prevention. This study aims to describe the individual-level variables associated with self-efficacy in nutrition care for older adults among nurses. A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was performed involving nurses from four northern Italy hospitals. The self-efficacy scale for nursing nutrition care (SE-NNC) and Multiple linear regression (MLR) models were used, enrolling 305 nurses. The mean SE-NNC total score was 53...

This study examined factors associated with weight change in 535 residents in 32 long term care homes where 3-month weight records were available. Trained researchers and standardized measures (e.g., nutrition status, food intake, home characteristics) were used to collect data; weight change was defined as ±2.5%. Just over 25% of the sample lost and 21% gained weight. Weight stability was compared to loss or gain. Weight loss was associated with being male, malnourished (MNA-SF or BMI <25), energy and protein intake and oral nutritional supplement use, while weight gain was associated with being female, and a physically (e...

Home-delivered meal programs improve health outcomes for older adults who are homebound, yet some clients need additional services and support to maintain independence. This study sought to identify program clients at the highest risk for adverse outcomes. Nutrition risk and Frailty Index scores were used to predict client-reported falls, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations over a six-month period for 258 Meals on Wheels clients in one Midwestern community. A multivariate binomial logistic regression model adjusting for both Frailty Index and nutrition risk scores with age, gender, poverty, and race accounted for 13...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with the nutritional status in institutionalized Mexican older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of residents in three long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Monterrey, Mexico, a medical history, Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel index, and geriatric depression scale, and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were performed. Risk of malnutrition and malnutrition status were defined as MNA 17-23...

Older adults are the fastest growing population in the United States. This group is at risk for developing chronic diseases resulting from high nutritional risk. The objective of this study was to assess nutritional risks and their key predictors among older adults. In this cross-sectional study, the Dietary Screening Tool, the Nutrition Self-efficacy Scale, food security, perceived health, and sociodemographics were measured. A total of 475, English-speaking adults, 50 years of age or older, residing in Maryland and attending senior congregate sites, participated in the study (urban n  = 215, rural n  = 260)...

Choline is an essential nutrient affects brain development in early life. However, evidence is lacking regarding its potential neuroprotective effects in later life from community-based cohorts. This study assessed the relationship between choline intake and cognitive functioning in a sample of older adults 60 years + from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 waves ( n  = 2,796). Choline intake was assessed using two nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls...

To describe the nutritional and functional changes that occurred in older patients with a femur fracture following a dietary intervention and oral nutritional support implemented at an orthogeriatric unit in Aragon, Spain. Open-label, prospective study. Patients were consecutively recruited and arranged into three groups based on their CONtrolling NUTritional (CONUT® ) score and nutritional needs. Nutritional status was assessed while in hospital, and at 45-, 100- and 180-days post-hospital discharge. One hundred and sixty-nine patients [mean age: 86 years ( SD  ± 5...

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status, nutrient intake and associated factors among older home care clients, caregivers and care recipients (≥65 years) living at home. There were a total of 78 participants, with a mean age of 78 ± 7.4 years. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), nutrient intake with a three-day food record, sarcopenia with a Simple Questionnaire to Rapidly Diagnose Sarcopenia (SARC) and depression with The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)...