Undernutrition Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Graded Moderate — two pooled Italian cohorts of 3,852 adults aged 65 to 96 followed for 9 years, though the design is observational and reverse causation cannot be ruled out.
- Design
- —
- Participants
- 3,852
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Authors declare no competing financial interests or personal relationships.
This study suggests checking nutritional status in older adults may help flag those at risk of faster cognitive decline.
Older Italians who were undernourished at the start of the study were much more likely to fall into the steepest cognitive decline group over nine years. About 27% of fast decliners were undernourished, versus 12% of those who stayed sharp. The link was strongest for visible signs like low body weight or muscle loss. Cause and effect run both ways here, since cognitive decline can also reduce eating.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors declare no competing financial interests or personal relationships.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
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