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Nutrients Nov 2021Extending healthspan is a major public health challenge. Diet is one of the modifiable factors for preventing age-related diseases and preserving overall good health... (Review)
Review
Extending healthspan is a major public health challenge. Diet is one of the modifiable factors for preventing age-related diseases and preserving overall good health status during aging. Optimizing individuals' intrinsic capacity, including domains in cognition, psychological, sensory function, vitality, and locomotion, has been proposed as a model of healthy aging by the World Health Organization. To better understand the relationships between a healthy diet and healthy aging, this review summarizes the recent epidemiologic and clinical data for dietary patterns that have been shown to play a role in (domains of) healthy aging. Regardless of priori or posteriori dietary patterns, it appears that dietary patterns centered on plant-based foods have a beneficial role in (domains of) healthy aging. Our review identified a knowledge gap in dietary patterns and multidimensional concepts of healthy aging. More epidemiological studies should consider intrinsic capacity as an outcome measure to further our understanding of a healthy diet and multidimensional concepts of healthy aging. When a sufficient number of epidemiological studies is available, evidence can be synthesized and clinical trials can be designed to evaluate a healthy diet as a strategy for healthy aging to further our progress in translating evidence to practice and promoting healthy aging.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Diet, Healthy; Elder Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Female; Healthy Aging; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 34959862
DOI: 10.3390/nu13124310 -
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 2021The World elderly population is expected to double before 2050. Unhealthy habits and unhealthy lifestyles are commonly associated with age-related diseases or their... (Review)
Review
The World elderly population is expected to double before 2050. Unhealthy habits and unhealthy lifestyles are commonly associated with age-related diseases or their worsening. Modification in daily lifestyle and diet may help preventing age-related diseases onset and efficiently affecting their evolution, thus promoting the Healthy Aging process, concept recently coined to describe the disease-free aging process. This review highlights the role of nutrition science in promoting healthy aging. Since the Mediterranean Model demonstrated to be a useful style in supporting healthy aging, promotion of this correct lifestyle by health policies seems to be the best approach to achieve this target.
Topics: Aged; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Health Status; Healthy Aging; Humans; Life Style
PubMed: 34725664
DOI: 10.1007/s12603-021-1675-6 -
Genome Medicine Apr 2016Humans are virtually identical in their genetic makeup, yet the small differences in our DNA give rise to tremendous phenotypic diversity across the human population. By... (Review)
Review
Humans are virtually identical in their genetic makeup, yet the small differences in our DNA give rise to tremendous phenotypic diversity across the human population. By contrast, the metagenome of the human microbiome-the total DNA content of microbes inhabiting our bodies-is quite a bit more variable, with only a third of its constituent genes found in a majority of healthy individuals. Understanding this variability in the "healthy microbiome" has thus been a major challenge in microbiome research, dating back at least to the 1960s, continuing through the Human Microbiome Project and beyond. Cataloguing the necessary and sufficient sets of microbiome features that support health, and the normal ranges of these features in healthy populations, is an essential first step to identifying and correcting microbial configurations that are implicated in disease. Toward this goal, several population-scale studies have documented the ranges and diversity of both taxonomic compositions and functional potentials normally observed in the microbiomes of healthy populations, along with possible driving factors such as geography, diet, and lifestyle. Here, we review several definitions of a 'healthy microbiome' that have emerged, the current understanding of the ranges of healthy microbial diversity, and gaps such as the characterization of molecular function and the development of ecological therapies to be addressed in the future.
Topics: Bacteria; Genetic Variation; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Metagenome; Microbiota; Phylogeny; Phylogeography
PubMed: 27122046
DOI: 10.1186/s13073-016-0307-y -
American Family Physician Jun 2018Diet is the single most significant risk factor for disability and premature death. Patients and physicians often have difficulty staying abreast of diet trends, many of... (Review)
Review
Diet is the single most significant risk factor for disability and premature death. Patients and physicians often have difficulty staying abreast of diet trends, many of which focus primarily on weight loss rather than nutrition and health. Recommending an eating style can help patients make positive change. Dietary patterns that support health include the Mediterranean diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Healthy Eating Plate. These approaches have benefits that include prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. These dietary patterns are supported by strong evidence that promotes a primary focus on unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables, plant-based fats and proteins, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Added sugars should be limited to less than 5% to 10% of daily caloric intake. Vegetables (not including potatoes) and fruits should make up one-half of each meal. Carbohydrate sources should primarily include beans/legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. An emphasis on monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax, cold-water fish, and nuts, helps prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline. A focus on foods rather than macronutrients can assist patients in understanding a healthy diet. Addressing barriers to following a healthy diet and utilizing the entire health care team can assist patients in following these guidelines.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Diet Therapy; Diet, Healthy; Humans; Nutrition Policy; Nutritional Requirements; Risk Factors
PubMed: 30215930
DOI: No ID Found -
British Journal of Health Psychology May 2019Physical activity and healthy eating seem to be protective against experiencing stress and negative affect as well as increase positive affect. At the same time,...
OBJECTIVES
Physical activity and healthy eating seem to be protective against experiencing stress and negative affect as well as increase positive affect. At the same time, previous studies showed that people reduce salutogenic behaviours such as physical activity and healthy eating in the face of stress and negative affect while increasing such behaviours in the context of positive affect. Due to daily fluctuations of these behaviours, the present study examined these relationships in daily life using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
DESIGN AND METHODS
Fifty-one university students responded to six daily prompts during 7 days via smartphone-based EMA. Items examined stress, emotional experience, physical activity duration, and healthy eating.
RESULTS
Higher stress and negative affect, as well as lower positive affect, were related to a reduction in subsequent physical activity. Higher physical activity levels, in turn, were associated with less subsequent stress and negative affect, as well as more positive affect. No such effects for stress and affect on healthy eating or vice versa were found.
CONCLUSIONS
Engaging in physical activity is related to better mood and less stress/negative affect over the next several hours in daily life. Prevention efforts therefore may benefit by focusing on promoting physical activity, particularly when stress/negative affect is high to 'break the cycle' of inactivity, stress, and negative affect. Potential effects of healthy eating might be more subtle and characterized by interindividual differences or state effects. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Physical activity can reduce stress as well as negative emotions and can enhance positive emotions. People tend to eat less healthy food during stressful times, and healthy eating can increase general health. Physical activity and healthy eating have been mostly assessed separately and through retrospective methods. What does this study add? This is an EMA study investigating bidirectional effects of stress, emotions, and salutogenic behaviour. After physical activity, people felt less stressed/negative and more positive; feeling better and less stressed resulted in more physical activity. Healthy eating was not associated with stress or emotion level and vice versa.
Topics: Adult; Affect; Diet, Healthy; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Stress, Psychological; Students; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 30672069
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12355 -
Psychiatria Danubina Sep 2019A number of lifestyle factors have been recognised to play an important role in positively modifying medical and psychiatric diseases and their associated morbidity and...
A number of lifestyle factors have been recognised to play an important role in positively modifying medical and psychiatric diseases and their associated morbidity and mortality. These include, eating healthy food, greater physical activity, cessation of smoking, avoidance of alcohol and illicit substances. Additional lifestyle factors for healthy living include, safe and peaceful environment, optimal sleep, de-stressing and enjoyable activities, social connections/support and healthy mental activities. Physicians from the ancient times, through the middle ages to the early 20 century have recommended adoption of healthy lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise to manage medical and psychiatric disorders without really understanding their scientific basis. In this short paper, we discuss the important role lifestyle factors play in morbidity and mortality related to many important and common medical and psychiatric diseases. We explore how and if positively modifying lifestyle factors can help to improve and or prevent medical and psychiatric disorders with particular emphasis on food, diet and exercise.
Topics: Diet, Healthy; Exercise; Health Behavior; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Mental Health
PubMed: 31488729
DOI: No ID Found -
Ageing Research Reviews Jul 2023As the proportion of aging people in our population increases steadily, global strategies accompanied by extensive research are necessary to tackle society and health... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
As the proportion of aging people in our population increases steadily, global strategies accompanied by extensive research are necessary to tackle society and health service challenges. The World Health Organization recently published an action plan: "Decade of healthy aging 2020-2030", which calls for concerted collaboration to prevent poverty of older people to provide quality education, job opportunities, and an age-inclusive infrastructure. However, scientists worldwide still struggle to find definitions and appropriate measurements of aging per se and healthy aging in particular. This literature review aims to compile concepts of healthy aging and provide a condensed overview of the challenges in defining and measuring it, along with suggestions for further research.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted three independent systematic literature searches covering the main scopes addressed in this review: (1) concepts and definitions of healthy aging, (2) outcomes and measures in (healthy) aging studies and (3) scores and indices of healthy aging. For each scope, the retrieved literature body was screened and subsequently synthesized.
RESULTS
We provide a historical overview of the concepts of healthy aging over the past 60 years. Furthermore, we identifiy current difficulties in identifying healthy agers, including dichotomous measurements, illness-centered views, study populations & designs. Secondly, markers and measures of healthy aging are discussed, including points to consider, like plausibility, consistency, and robustness. Finally, we present healthy aging scores as measurements, which combine multiple aspects to avoid a dichotomous categorization and display the bio-psycho-social concept of healthy aging.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
When deducting research, scientists need to consider the diverse challenges in defining and measuring healthy aging. Considering that, we recommend scores that combine multiple aspects of healthy aging, such as the Healthy Ageing Index or the ATHLOS score, among others. Further efforts are to be made on a harmonized definition of healthy aging and validated measuring instruments that are modular, easy to apply and provide comparable results in different studies and cohorts to enhance the generalization of results.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Healthy Aging; Aging; Educational Status; Health Status; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37059401
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101934 -
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Jun 2022Healthy ageing frameworks have been highly explored. Our objective was to assess existing frameworks for healthy ageing and to identify commonly described factors that... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Healthy ageing frameworks have been highly explored. Our objective was to assess existing frameworks for healthy ageing and to identify commonly described factors that can potentially act as determinants of healthy ageing.
METHODS
We carried out a systematic review by searching five electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, PsychINFO, and CINAHL) from January 2010 to November 2020 to capture contemporary evidence. Eligible studies needed to report a clear framework of healthy ageing in humans, within one or more of three domains (physical, mental/cognitive, social), in English. No restriction was placed on geographical location. Retrospective studies, studies that did not report a framework of healthy ageing, and studies with a focus on diagnostic measures were excluded.
RESULTS
Of 3329 identified records, nine studies met our eligibility criteria and were included. Most of the studies were qualitative or cross sectional, and a majority were carried out in Asia, followed by North America, Australia, and Africa. The ten determinants identified for healthy ageing include physical activity, diet, self-awareness, outlook/attitude, life-long learning, faith, social support, financial security, community engagement, and independence.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified ten determinants of healthy ageing proposed by the contemporary evidence base. There appears to be increasing acknowledgement of the instrumental role of social and mental/cognitive well-being as determinants of healthy ageing. The extent to which each determinant contributes to healthy ageing requires further evaluation.
Topics: Australia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Healthy Aging; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Social Support
PubMed: 35132578
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-02049-w -
Appetite Jul 2019The objective of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among low-income Latino adolescents using an intervention development framework.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among low-income Latino adolescents using an intervention development framework.
METHODS
Semi-structured interviews (n = 30) were conducted with Latino youth ages 13-17 who had overweight or obesity at a safety-net clinic in San Francisco, CA. Adolescent beliefs and attitudes regarding healthy eating and individual, family, and community level barriers and facilitators were elicited. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive approach and the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation (COM-B) model.
RESULTS
Participants had capability gaps; while they demonstrated basic nutrition knowledge, they also held significant misconceptions about healthy eating, equating "organic" with healthy and failing to recognize sugar in a number of beverages and foods. Families were a source of support through role modeling and purchasing fresh produce, yet in many cases also undermined adolescents' healthy eating goals through purchases of high calorie low nutrient food, an opportunity facilitator and challenge. By contrast, peers were mostly a negative influence due to frequent consumption of high calorie low nutrient food. The school environment posed opportunity challenges as participants found school lunch unpalatable and had ready access to unhealthy options nearby. Participants were motivated to improve their eating habits but often not resilient in the face of obstacles.
CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to promote healthy eating among low-income Latino adolescents should address common nutritional misconceptions, target families as well as teens, consider peer influences, and advocate for policy approaches that improve the school food environment.
Topics: Adolescent; Diet, Healthy; Feeding Behavior; Female; Focus Groups; Food Preferences; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Nutritional Status; Pediatric Obesity; Poverty; San Francisco
PubMed: 30954634
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.04.004 -
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD 2021A decade has passed since we published a comprehensive review in this journal addressing the topic of promoting successful cognitive aging, making this a good time to... (Review)
Review
A decade has passed since we published a comprehensive review in this journal addressing the topic of promoting successful cognitive aging, making this a good time to take stock of the field. Because there have been limited large-scale, randomized controlled trials, especially following individuals from middle age to late life, some experts have questioned whether recommendations can be legitimately offered about reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Despite uncertainties, clinicians often need to at least make provisional recommendations to patients based on the highest quality data available. Converging lines of evidence from epidemiological/cohort studies, animal/basic science studies, human proof-of-concept studies, and human intervention studies can provide guidance, highlighting strategies for enhancing cognitive reserve and preventing loss of cognitive capacity. Many of the suggestions made in 2010 have been supported by additional research. Importantly, there is a growing consensus among major health organizations about recommendations to mitigate cognitive decline and promote healthy cognitive aging. Regular physical activity and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors have been supported by all of these organizations. Most organizations have also embraced cognitively stimulating activities, a heart-healthy diet, smoking cessation, and countering metabolic syndrome. Other behaviors like regular social engagement, limiting alcohol use, stress management, getting adequate sleep, avoiding anticholinergic medications, addressing sensory deficits, and protecting the brain against physical and toxic damage also have been endorsed, although less consistently. In this update, we review the evidence for each of these recommendations and offer practical advice about behavior-change techniques to help patients adopt brain-healthy behaviors.
Topics: Cognition; Cognitive Aging; Diet, Healthy; Exercise; Healthy Aging; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans
PubMed: 33935078
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201462