Aging successfully needs lifelong prevention strategies

Low Dietary Protein Intakes and Associated Dietary Patterns and Functional Limitations in an Aging Population: A NHANES analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate protein intakes across demographic characteristics in relation to dietary patterns and functional outcomes in older adults.

DESIGN

Observational and cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Non-institutionalized participants from the 2005-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Data from 11,680 adults were categorized into 51-60 years (n= 4,016), 61-70 years (n=3,854), and 71 years and older (n=3,810) for analysis.

MEASUREMENTS

Adults were stratified by meeting or not meeting the protein recommendation (0.8 g/kg/d) to compare demographics, diet quality with Healthy Eating Index-2015, functional limitations, and other dietary intakes. Dietary recalls were collected using the multiple pass method. Data analyses were weighted to create a nationally-representative sample.

RESULTS

Dietary protein intakes were significantly lower in older age groups, with up to 46% of the oldest adults not meeting the protein intake recommendation. Participants consuming protein below the recommended intake level had significantly poorer diet quality across all age groups (P<0.01), however, overall diet quality was better in older adults. Those not meeting the protein recommendation were more likely to have intakes of other nutrients below recommended levels. Those below the protein recommendation had significantly more functional limitations across all age groups, while grip strength was significantly lower in those over 70 years old.

CONCLUSION

Lower protein intakes, and lower diet quality and physical functioning are related in an aging population. Meeting the protein recommendation was linked to better overall diet quality and may be protective of lean mass; therefore, evaluation of individual characteristics which may affect protein intakes is crucial in supporting older adults to meet their protein needs.

The de-alzheimerisation of dementia? An analysis of internet searches

PURPOSE

Alzheimer's disease is often seen by the public as synonymous with dementia but this may have changed in recent years.

METHODS

We used Google Trends to examine the relative volume of internet searches from 2004 to July 2017 for the terms 'dementia' and 'Alzheimer' in English-speaking countries. For each country, a linear regression model was fitted for each search term and the slopes of the lines were compared.

RESULTS

The slopes (standard error) for 'dementia' and 'Alzheimer', respectively, were: Australia-0.26 (0.02) and - 001 (0.002); Canada-0.23 (0.01) and 0.004 (0.01); Ireland: 0.33 (0.02) and - 0.04 (0.01); United Kingdom-0.36 (0.01) and 0.01 (0.001); and United States-0.23 (0.01) and - 0.01 (0.004). Differences between slopes were all significant at p < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

In all countries, there was a large increase over time in relative search volumes for 'dementia' and a flat or negative trend in searches for 'Alzheimer'.