Food insecurity and epigenetic aging in middle-aged and older adults

Tamargo, Javier A.; Cruz-Almeida, Yenisel

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116949

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Deficiencies in these nutrients can impair nerve conduction and disrupt signaling and memory formation processes in the brain ( 35 – 37 ). Chronic food insecurity can also trigger persistent psychological and physiological stress, leading to a chronic stress response ( 20 , 21 ). This stress can compromise brain function by activating stress hormones like cortisol, which can be harmful to the hippocampus, a crucial area for memory storage in the brain ( 38 , 39 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, healthy dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, have been shown to have neuroprotective effects and are associated with better cognitive outcomes in older adults ( 17 – 20 ). Conversely, food insecurity can lead to poor dietary choices, resulting in insufficient intake of essential nutrients that support cognitive function ( 21 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of food insecurity on cognitive health in older adults: insights from the NHANES 2011–2014 data

Zhang,

Jiang,

Yin

2024

Front. Nutr.

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PurposeTo investigate the relationship between food insecurity and cognitive decline among elderly Americans.MethodsUtilizing NHANES 2011–2014 data, we examined cognitive function via the Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and assessed food security through the US Food Security Survey Module. Multiple regression models were used to adjust for demographic and health variables.ResultsFood insecurity demonstrated a significant association with lower cognitive function scores. The effects of food insecurity on cognitive function were moderated by factors such as smoking and alcohol use, indicating a direct influence of food insecurity on cognitive decline.ConclusionThis study underscores the importance of food security for cognitive health in the elderly and advocates for targeted interventions to address nutritional disparities and enhance cognitive functioning in aging populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of food insecurity on cognitive health in older adults: insights from the NHANES 2011–2014 data

Zhang,

Jiang,

Yin

2024

Front. Nutr.

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Food insecurity: The resilient, but “silent poverty” perspectives of older ethnic minority individuals within UK communities

McEachern,

Ellahi,

Muzahid Khan

2024

Soc Policy Adm

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Food insecurity is acknowledged as a key social determinant of health among older adults. Despite recording significantly higher levels of poverty in comparison to white ethnic groups, older individuals from ethnic minorities are under‐represented as recipients of food aid. Thus, there are knowledge gaps in our understanding of older people and their experiences of food insecurity within ethnic minority communities. Through the theoretical lens of Individual and Community Resilience, we empirically advance our understanding of food security and resilience within South Asian communities via in‐depth interviews with community stakeholders and older individuals from Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities across the Greater Manchester region. Our findings reveal that the integration of temporal, environmental and social constructs within a resilience framework reveals significant potential for further negative social, cultural and economic impact on older ethnic minorities in the future, especially as current food support services do not appear to cater for ethnic dietary preferences, language accessibility and/or cultural norms regarding asking for help/charity outside the home. We predict therefore, in combination with the identified persistent stressors, that food insecurity issues within older ethnic minority communities are likely to get much worse, resulting in the need for extensive resilient capacities to cope with future cost‐of‐living challenges. In acknowledging previous limitations within previous resilience frameworks, we propose an incremental contribution to theory and conclude by identifying culturally and operationally appropriate food support system approaches, which can be used to address the increasing prevalence of “silent poverty” within ethnic minority communities.

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Food insecurity and epigenetic aging in middle-aged and older adults

Cited by 2 publications

References 39 publications

Impact of food insecurity on cognitive health in older adults: insights from the NHANES 2011–2014 data

Impact of food insecurity on cognitive health in older adults: insights from the NHANES 2011–2014 data

Food insecurity: The resilient, but “silent poverty” perspectives of older ethnic minority individuals within UK communities

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