Your brain on good nutrition; proper diet can protect against dementia

    Good nutrition is beneficial at any age. However, proper nutrition for older adults is even more important, with research revealing that poor nutritional decisions can eventually lead to cognitive decline and dementia.
    Visiting Nurses of Aroostook knows how challenging it can be for seniors to maintain a healthy diet, in part because of the difficulties with cooking for one or two persons, transportation difficulties, problems standing for long periods of time to cook, and even loneliness, which can take the joy out of mealtimes.
    “With older adults, a healthy diet will emphasize nutrient-dense food choices and the importance of fluid balance,” said Mim Sloat, clinical manager for Visiting Nurses of Aroostook. “Appropriate fluid intake is often overlooked or goes unnoticed, because as we age, there can be a disassociation between how hydrated our bodies are and how thirsty we feel.”
    Nutrient-dense foods are high in nutrients in relation to the calories they contain. For example, low-fat milk is more nutrient-dense than whole milk. In addition, specific research points to the antioxidant vitamins C and E as being particularly beneficial in protecting against Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin E is primarily found in vegetable and nut oils, as well as in spinach and whole grain products. Vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, as well as tomatoes, spinach and red peppers.
    Keep in mind that nutrients are most beneficial when provided by actual foods rather than supplements; however, this sometimes proves difficult with an older adult because of decreased caloric needs. A health care professional should be consulted when considering vitamin supplements.
    Consuming a low-fat/low cholesterol diet can also help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  High fat diets are thought to impair learning and memory performance, and elevated blood cholesterol can triple a person’s risk for developing the disease. Preliminary studies have also shown a connection between omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Omega-3 fatty acids, found most prevalently in fish, provide anti-inflammatory properties, which are thought to increase memory and learning performance. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon.
    The true challenge may lie in encouraging a frail senior or loved one to eat when he or she suffers from poor appetite. Often, medications or treatable disorders such as heartburn, constipation or nausea can cause poor appetite. Mealtime for an older person can also be lonely or depressing if a life partner has recently passed away. Some tips to encourage eating at meal time include:
    Ask the reason why your family senior does not want to eat (not hungry, the food is cold, food doesn’t taste good, etc.)
    Serve small, frequent meals rather than three larger meals
    Serve beverages after a meal so a loved one doesn’t feel full before eating the meal
    Bring the joy back to mealtimes with colorful foods and a variety of textures
    Set an attractive table with food garnishes, placemats, flowers and perhaps music in the background
    Consider finger foods that are easy to handle or use adaptive equipment such as silverware with specially designed handles for those who have difficulty using utensils.
    Ensuring that your loved one is eating enough nutritious foods and drinking enough fluids is a challenge, but it is important to remember to treat your senior as an adult, not a child. For more information, please visit us at www.easternmainehomecare.org for free resources and tools.
    Visiting Nurses of Aroostook is celebrating 42 years of service!  VNA was founded in 1969 and provides comprehensive in-home health and hospice services for Aroostook County residents. Last year VNA’s caring staff drove 395,000 miles to provide 19,397 visits to nearly 1,000 patients and their families. Although home care services are paid for by public and private sources, or directly by patients and their families, tax-exempt donations help cover the cost of care provided to the uninsured or underinsured. VNA, a part of the Eastern Maine HomeCare Family, is a member of EMHS, which works to ensure that the highest quality home care is available to all who need it, especially those in rural Maine. For more information about our home care and hospice services, please visit www.easternmainehomecare.org or call our EMHC Patient Referral Line toll-free at 1-866-591-8843.