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Healthy ageing: the role of nutrition and lifestyle – a new British Nutrition Foundation Task Force Report
Author(s) -
Stanner S.,
Denny A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
nutrition bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1467-3010
pISSN - 1471-9827
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-3010.2008.01734.x
Subject(s) - life expectancy , gerontology , medicine , foundation (evidence) , healthy ageing , ageing , population ageing , disease , task force , osteoporosis , population , environmental health , political science , public administration , pathology , law , endocrinology
Summary Life expectancy is increasing around the world, and this is likely to have profound effects on many aspects of society, particularly if these extra years are to be associated with ill health. In the UK, for example, lifespan is increasing at the rate of 2 years for each decade, and over 16% of the population are now aged 65 years or over. Ageing is an integral, natural part of life but the way in which we grow old, our health and functional ability all depend not only on our genetic make‐up, but also on the lifestyle choices we have made over our lifetime. Evidence linking dietary and lifestyle factors throughout the life course with healthy ageing is emerging and has been reviewed in‐depth by a British Nutrition Foundation Task Force comprising of experts in the field and chaired by Professor John Mathers. This article summarises some of the findings of Task Force's Report by discussing the effect of diet and lifestyle on common chronic diseases in later life, namely cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and arthritis, and on promoting healthy mental ageing and good oral health.