The main objectives of the course are to provide the students with knowledge regarding age related physiological changes and how these may be affected by diet and physical activity. Furthermore, students will aquire knowledge on effective strategies and interventions to improve health and quality of life in an ageing population.

After completion of the course students should be able to:

Knowledge:

• Describe demography of aging and the aging process
• Describe the physiological changes that occur with ageing
• Describe the dietary patterns and physical activity of older adults and define physiological, psychosocial and mental factors that affect nutritional intake and the level of physical activity
• Explain interactions between dietary intake patterns physical activity and physiological, psycosocial and cognitive changes
• Describe diseases related to poor nutrient and physical inactivity in the older population

Skills:

• Discuss interventions which provide food and/or nutrition and/or physical activity for older adults, including restricting and promoting factors among the older adults
• Discuss the  recommendations for nutrition and physical activity for older adults, including supplements, and specially-target foods/optimised foods for (specific groups of) older adults
• Demonstrate ability to perform assessment of nutritional status and physical capacity and health status in the elderly

Compentencies:

• Independently be able to perform evidence based assessment of the effects of nutritional and physical activity interventions in older adults
• Identify gaps in existing knowledge in the field of ageing in relation to nutrition and physical activity and make suggestions for future studies
• Make evidence-based recommendations for older adults on diet and physical activity taking into consideration physical, cognitive, and social abilities.