Healthy Ageing Nutrition – Longevity for Older Adults

The course shows how to plan diets for older adults to maintain mobility, muscle mass, immunity and cognitive function, and to prevent age-related diseases. The programme is based on current ESPEN guidelines on nutrition and hydration in older adults and on research into sarcopenia, frailty, the Mediterranean diet and healthy ageing. ESPEN stresses that the priority in older adults is adequate intake of energy, protein, micronutrients and fluids to prevent malnutrition, dehydration and loss of independence.

You will learn to plan diets for seniors taking into account age, body weight, chronic conditions, medication, appetite, dental health, digestive function and the risk of malnutrition, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive impairment. Particular emphasis is placed on nutrition that supports muscles, bones, the brain, the gut, immunity and the cardiovascular system.

✔ specific protocols – case studies ✔ base diet templates for the most common needs ✔ supplementation and counteracting medication side effects ✔ working with patients and personalising the diet

Course programme

• The physiology of ageing: metabolism, muscles, bones, brain, gut and immunity.
• Assessing nutritional status in older adults: body weight, appetite, albumin, vitamin D, B12, iron, hydration.
• Malnutrition and dehydration in older adults – recognition and management.
• Sarcopenia and frailty: protein, leucine, resistance exercise, vitamin D.
• Anti-inflammatory and heart-protective diet: the Mediterranean model, DASH, fibre, omega-3.
• Nutrition for the brain: the MIND diet, polyphenols, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids.
• Bone health: calcium, vitamin D, K2, protein, magnesium.
• Gut and microbiota: fibre, prebiotics, probiotics, constipation.
• Diet in diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis and kidney disease in older adults.
• Supplements for seniors: what makes sense, when and in which situations.
• Practical meal planning: poor appetite, chewing problems, dysphagia, medication.
• Case studies: an active senior, a senior with sarcopenia, a senior with diabetes, a senior after hospitalisation.