European Research Project Hopes To Gain Insights Into Impact Of Diet On Aging

How can diet help guarantee that people stay healthy as they move into old age? A new EU-funded research project aims to find that out by studying 1,250 Europeans over the age of 65 from all over Europe, along with 125 people recruited for detailed analysis. The study will look at immunological markers of aging and the impact of the Mediterranean diet on immunity in old age. Though people are living longer – six years longer on average since the 1980s – people over the age of 60 often live with poor health and disabilities. The five-year project, called NU-AGE, is examining new dietary strategies to address the specific needs of Europe’s elderly population. The knowledge gained will be used to design foods especially for elderly consumers.