Nutrition and Ageing

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between senescence, function, immunity and nutritional status
• Discuss the extent to which nutrition can help to prevent or treat age-related diseases
• Describe the effect of inadequate dentition on nutritional status
• Evaluate the association between nutrition and age-related diseases
• Appraise the efficacy of diet, nutritional supplements and the use of fortified/functional foods in improving clinical outcome (e.g. following illness or surgery)
• Debate the key issues regarding the prevalence of malnutrition and frequently encountered nutritional deficiencies in hospitals and the community
• Evaluate the evidence for the role of nutrition in the aetiology, prevention and treatment of age-related conditions
• Apply theory critically to analyse own professional experience
• Assess the limitations of the published norms and interpretation of nutritional status assessment in the elderly to evaluate the impact of clinical intervention.

Indicative content includes, some or all of the following topics:

• Biology of human senescence
• Functional consequences of human senescence: Neurological and cognitive decline; impaired vision and hearing; poor dentition; reduced strength; muscle wasting (sarcopenia); reduced physical activity; deterioration of circulatory and gastrointestinal function; bone loss; immobility; impaired immune function
• Nutritional implications of human senescence: Diminished appetite; impaired taste and smell; fall in
• nutrient absorption; impaired nutrient utilisation; masticatory disability; food selection
• Effect of ageing on immune function; benefits of micronutrients
• Nutritional status assessment and screening
• Current nutritional status of the elderly; frequently-encountered deficiencies
• Diet in the aetiology of some age-related conditions e.g. osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive decline/Alzheimer's disease, age-related eye disease
• Nutrition to aid prevention of some age-related diseases
• Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
• Alzheimer's disease and impaired cognitive function
• Macular degeneration, cataract
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Cancer.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Journal club
• Class discussions.

Assessment for the module is optional for those taking it as a short course. Assessment is compulsory if it is being taken as part of an award programme. Please contact the course leader, Margaret Rayman, or the Programme Administrator, Angeliki Panagiotara, for further details.

Summative assessment

The summative assessment for this module consists of: 

• Coursework: Assignments collectively comprising a maximum of 5,000 words, which may include a compulsory element. A maximum of 10 questions ensures a range of subject areas are assessed, demonstrating learning outcomes across the range for the module
• You will be required to submit the coursework electronically on a set deadline two months following the module.

In order to complete the assessments you will, as a starting point, be required to demonstrate knowledge obtained from the course material and reading. The essays will also require you to discuss and reflect on the material. Coursework essays are expected to be well researched and referenced.

Formative assessment

You will receive feedback electronically and module organisers will be available for further discussion if necessary.

You will be required to do some reading prior to the module starting, take a look at the reading list.