Malnutrition in older adults can lead to various health concerns, including:

• A weak immune system, which increases the risk of infections.
• Poor wound healing.
• Muscle weakness and decreased bone mass, which can lead to falls and fractures.
• A higher risk of hospitalization.
• An increased risk of death.

Sep 17, 2019

Effects of malnutrition in elderly

• Nutritional problems in the elderly can cause a number of complications, including weakened immune systems, lowered energy levels and chronic health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis.

Malnutrition is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality in independently living older people, as well as in nursing home residents and hospitalised patients. [5,6] There are many causes of malnutrition. These can include:

What are the signs of malnutrition in the elderly?

If you suspect senior malnutrition, watch for these signs: Excessive or prolonged sadness. Lack of energy . Memory issues or oncoming dementia . Getting sick often. Bruised or dry, cracked skin. Wounds that are slow to heal.

What are the long term effects of malnutrition?

The consequences of prolonged malnutrition are sequentially altered cellular metabolism, impaired function, and finally, loss of body tissues (2). Clinically, malnutrition is often associated with muscular dysfunction and weakness and altered immunity resulting in an increased risk of infection (3–5).

What happens to your body when you are malnourished?

It can lead to serious health issues, including stunted growth, eye problems, diabetes and heart disease. Malnutrition affects billions of people worldwide. Some populations have a high risk of developing certain types of malnutrition depending on their environment, lifestyle and resources.

How long does it take to recover from malnutrition in adults?

Results. The recovery rate was 51.9% and the median recovery time was 16 days (95%CI: 14.233–17.767). Controlling for other factors; having anemia at admission, no plumpy nut provision, failing to enter in to phase 2 on day 10 and a weight gain of more than 8 g/kg/day were significant predictors of recovery time.

What are 3 risk factors for malnutrition in older adults?

Factors contributing to malnutrition Normal age-related changes. Illness . Impairment in ability to eat. Dementia. Medications . Restricted diets. Limited income . Reduced social contact.

How is malnutrition treated in the elderly?

The incidence and impact of malnutrition in older people is underestimated. The best option for treating malnutrition is to enhance normal eating and drinking. A “Food First” approach encourages eating frequent, small, high energy and protein meals and snacks.

What does malnutrition do to the brain?

Brain : Nutrient deficiencies may speed up the rate at which your brain loses neurons, which can impair your speech, coordination, and memory. 10. Kidneys: A deficiency of fluids and electrolytes can cause your kidneys to overwork and affect their ability to function.

What should you eat if you are malnourished?

To stay healthy, you need to eat a variety of foods from the four main food groups including: plenty of fruit and vegetables. plenty of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods . some milk and dairy foods . some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non dairy sources of protein.

How long can a malnourished person live?

In general, it is likely that a person could survive between 1 and 2 months without food.

What are the signs of being malnourished?

Other symptoms of malnutrition include: reduced appetite . lack of interest in food and drink. feeling tired all the time . feeling weaker. getting ill often and taking a long time to recover. wounds taking a long time to heal. poor concentration. feeling cold most of the time.

What is the best vitamin for malnutrition?

Niacin is another mineral that helps the body convert food into energy. It’s also known as vitamin B-3 .

What are the complications of malnutrition?

Consequences of malnutrition in children and adolescents Growth failure and stunting. Delayed sexual development. Reduced muscle mass and strength. Impaired intellectual development. Rickets. Increased lifetime risk of osteoporosis.

How does malnutrition affect the heart?

Nutritional supplementation for malnourished patients reverses the compensatory factors and may increase the short-term potential for heart failure. Severe cardiac debility results in poor nutrition, which may in turn produce unsuspected but clinically significant myocardial atrophy.

Can malnutrition be reversed?

Experts have long maintained that the damage children suffer if malnourished during gestation and in the first two years of life—commonly referred to as the 1,000-day window of opportunity—is irreversible and cannot be offset by interventions later in childhood.