Dossier
Food & Nutrition for elderly
Wageningen University & Research is studying the effect that nutrition can have on optimising the health of the elderly. This document provides an overview of all the research that Wageningen University & Research is currently conducting into nutrition and the elderly.
Healthy ageing
The Dutch are living longer. These days, average life expectancy is around eighty years. An agreeable prospect, particularly if it involves vitality and good health. Wageningen University & Research is studying how people can grow old healthily.
Evidence-based product development
Senior citizens are an interesting target group for manufacturers, government bodies and information services. There are plenty of market opportunities and health benefits can be gained by preventing malnourishment in the elderly, for example. The main challenge for manufacturers, government bodies and information services is to design products that meet the specific needs and requirements of this target group, which include tackling loneliness, improving physical performance and producing nutritious food that also tastes good.
The nutritional status and exercise habits of elderly people living at home are monitored using E-health tools. This allows healthcare professionals to intervene at the first sign of malnourishment and inactivity. Cater with Care is developing and testing enriched foods that fit in with elderly people’s regular eating patterns and help to improve the health of the elderly and the sick.
Food choices and eating habits of the elderly
Wageningen Food & Biobased Research measures how much elderly people enjoy different foods, and how they fit into their daily routine. Our consumer research generates reliable information, which manufacturers can use to optimise products to suit the target group. Government bodies and social organisations can use the information to develop effective policy, for example on persuading elderly people to eat healthily.
Projects
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Lifestyle research into maintaining optimal cognitive function in ageing (MOCIA)
One of the consequences of an ageing population is that the number of people with age-related cognitive decline is increasing. The crossover programme... -
Custom-made texture and flavour result in bitter masking swallowing gel
A good tasting gel in two flavours ( coffee and anise ) that masks/reduces the bitter taste of medicine, so it makes the intake much easier.... -
E-learning ‘Older adults and malnutrition’ aimed at caregivers
Many health care professionals have insufficient knowledge about malnutrition among older adults. Through this Dutch e-learning material, health care... -
Telemonitoring for the prevention of undernutrition in community-dwelling elderly
PhysioDom HDIM is a European project aiming to improve nutritional status of community-dwelling elderly through telemonitoring of nutritional outcomes... -
4xD: Vitamin D for preventing Dementia and Depression in Diabetes
The twenty-first century is facing the challenge of an accelerating speed of ageing, and with it an increasing prevalence of ageing-related... -
ProMuscle in Practice: Resistance exercise training and increased protein intake to improve physical functioning in community-dwelling elderly people
Muscle mass and muscle strength progressively decline with increasing age. This has negative consequences for daily functioning of older adults....