A heartbreaking trigger to cognitive decline?

If I told you that 5.2 million seniors over the age of 60 “suffered” from something, you’d probably assume I’m talking about a DISEASE, right?

Unfortunately, that number isn’t a disease… and it can’t be cured by modern medicine.

But what it IS doing is potentially triggering a rapid increase of cognitive decline.

And as you know, this can lead to diseases like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Let’s take a look at this heartbreaking trigger… and ensure you, friends, and loved ones steer clear from this path.

Folks, according to Feeding America, 5.2 million seniors aged 60+ faced HUNGER in 2020.

But being “hungry” doesn’t mean you’re STARVING… or even BEGGING for food.

More often than not, it boils down to seniors lacking a SUFFICIENT amount of food.

It’s called food insufficiency – and this usually happens because of limited financial resources.

This means many seniors aren’t buying an adequate amount of food to sustain the number of calories, vitamins, and vital nutrients their bodies require.

Now, a study that was conducted over a decade has found that older people experiencing food insufficiency are more likely to have physical limitations and are at a greater risk of malnutrition and depression – all of which have been linked to cognitive decline.

Despite programs like the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are supposed to help provide much-needed food to folks (young and old), this is still happening.

The main takeaway is that eating enough food – with the right number of calories and proper nutrients – is CRUCIAL to fueling your brain and the rest of your body.

Without this adequate fuel, things begin to slack. (If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I’ve talked before about how certain foods can help or even hurt your brain.)

The bottom line? Don’t let yourself or a loved one be steered toward a future dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis because of lack of food.

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from food insufficiency it’s important that you take advantage of assistance programs like SNAP, or look at resources from organizations (like Feeding America).

You can also seek help from family members or friends that can assist with going to the grocery store or ordering food on your behalf.

To fighting the consequences of senior hunger,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Berman, Robby. “Faster cognitive decline linked with food insufficiency in new study.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/faster-cognitive-decline-linked-with-food-insufficiency-in-new-study

Feeding America. “Facts about senior hunger in America.” https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/senior-hunger-facts