Malnutrition: Major cause of aging

Malnutrition can be defined as the state of being poorly nourished. It may be caused by the lack of one or more nutrients (under-nutrition), or an excess of nutrients (overnutrition).

It is the consequence of energy and protein deficiencies that cause adverse effects on body composition and on body function such as impaired muscle function, decreased bone mass, immune dysfunction, anemia, reduced cognitive function, poor wound healing, delayed recovering from surgery, higher hospital and readmission rate, and mortality.

For the first time in decades average life expectancy in many developed countries is forecast to decline over the next 20 to 30 years, the reason is poor diet. Obesity is now a major epidemic and is rapidly becoming a leading cause of serious health problems and premature death.

Malnutrition is common among older people over 60 years of age. The prevalence of malnutrition in older people living in the community ranges between 1.3% and 47.8%.

The causes of malnutrition are extremely varied, and they can be divided into three main types: medical, social, and psychological. Social factors like poverty, loneliness, low levels of education may affect food availability and, subsequently, nutritional status.

Poor appetite or anorexia is probably the major cause of malnutrition and is mediated by a variety of factors. It is well known that energy intake decreases with age, and that micro-nutrient deficiencies are more likely to occur with a reduced energy intake.
Malnutrition: Major cause of aging

Stress due to aging factor

Late life is often seen as a time of great, often uncontrollable, stress. Older people are often coping with chronic illness and disability, the loss of friends and family members, and their own impending mortality.

Psychological stress has frequently been associated with a broad spectrum of negative health outcomes. The stress response becomes problematic when the body becomes over-stressed and impacts on the capacity to cope with day to day stuff. Body response to stress is to activate the nervous system and trigger the hypothalamus to initiate greater production from the adrenal glands of two hormones adrenaline and cortisol for release into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism.

Due to prolonged life expectancy, more and more adults are reaching very old age, increasing the possibility to face health-related stressors, consequently leading to higher levels of perceived stress.

Studies have found that between 27 and 48% of older adults suffer from psychological distress. Most investigations of psychological distress in older persons have found that it occurs at a higher rate in institutional settings than in private households.

The regular and oriented practice of exercise can increases the level of stress coping in elderly people, and also enhances their physical performance in everyday life activities.
Stress due to aging factor