Ageing

Table of contents

    Ageing

    Plant-based eating patterns can contribute to healthy ageing. The two dietary patterns most closely linked to longevity – the Mediterranean diet and the Okinawa diet from Japan – are both characterized by an abundance of plant-based foods and low to moderate amounts of fish and lean meat.

    Plant-based eating is just as relevant, if not more so, to the ageing population as it is to the population at large. It is associated with a lower incidence of obesity, lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer - the main non-communicable diseases associated with premature mortality.

    Living longer in good health

    Several long-term studies (both in Europe as in US) have shown that the disease burden among persons who never smoked, maintain a normal BMI, exercise regularly and follow a healthy predominantly plant-based diet is considerably lower than that of those who do not adhere to any of these healthy lifestyle behaviours.

    In a Dutch cohort of over 33,000 people it was calculated that higher adherence to plant-based eating patterns (Mediterranean diet or prudent diet) compared to a typical Western diet, particularly when combined with other lifestyle factors (healthy body weight, no smoking and exercise), resulted in a lower disease burden and about two years longer in good health as quantified by Disability-Adjusted Life Years.

    What is sarcopenia?

    Sarcopenia is the loss of lean muscle mass, strength and importantly muscle quality and function. It is a slow, progressive condition and is part of the natural process of ageing.

    Between the ages of 40 and 80 years around 30 to 50% of muscle mass can be lost. After the age of 50, muscle function is estimated to be reduced by 1 to 2% each year, and as much as 3% a year after the age of 60. The decline in muscle mass and function becomes pathological when it is sufficiently severe to lead to falls, frailty, immobility and loss of independence.

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