OLLI0115 - The Role of Diet and Nutrition in Healthy Aging

Course Description

This six-week course explores the role of nutrition, diet, and lifestyle in health and longevity as we age. You will learn about the characteristics of the populations that live the longest around the world with a special focus on dietary practices of these centenarians. Professor Pope will address some of the physical, psychological, and social factors that can compromise adequate nutrition with age. Age related changes and recommendations for energy and nutrient needs will be considered with a special focus on protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. The benefits, adequacy, and fundamentals of widely promoted plant-based diet approaches will be addressed. You will also learn about indications for use and safety considerations of dietary supplements for aging adults. The emerging research on diet’s role in brain and cognitive health will be explored. Current resources and recommendations for the “best diet” to delay age-related disease and decline will be discussed. Attendees will receive recommendations for credible online nutrition information and complimentary pdfs of relevant chapters from Professor Pope’s textbook, Nutrition for a Changing World, that is in use in over 140 universities across the country. This course will be recorded.