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VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2019 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Anorexia in Elderly

Tapas Das, Sanchari Ghosh

Keywords : Anorexia, Frailty, Geriatric syndrome, Ghrelin, Malnutrition, Mini nutritional assessment, Nucleus arcuatus, Nutritional supplementation

Citation Information : Das T, Ghosh S. Anorexia in Elderly. Bengal Physician Journal 2019; 6 (1):4-7.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10100-6104

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-11-2019

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2019; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: Anorexia in elderly is an important geriatric syndrome. It is defined as the loss of appetite and/or decreased food intake in late life. Mechanism: It is due to physical factors and chronic medical diseases. Delayed gastric emptying and colonic stasis also contribute to anorexia. Hormones like ghrelin and leptin as well as certain hypothalamic neurons like the nucleus arcuatus play an important role in its pathogenesis. Consequences of anorexia of aging: Anorexia in elderly leads to malnutrition, frailty and sarcopenia resulting in increased mortality. Assessment: It is assessed by the mini nutritional assessment and other tools. Treatment: Anorexia in elderly is treated by food manipulation and nutritional supplementation, although there is no effective agent. Conclusion: Anorexia of aging is an important challenge to the treating physician. An adequate amount of food must be ensured in the elderly to prevent weight loss particularly in the frail subjects.


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