DIETARY-INTAKE AND FUNCTIONAL ABILITY BETWEEN 70 AND 76 YEARS OF AGE

Functional ability as well as the sociological, psychological, physiol ogical, and nutritional status are important parts of the multi-dimens ional problems of older persons. The aim was to study the relationship s between ability/disability in daily life activities (ADL) and dietar y intake in elderly persons studied longitudinally between 70 and 76 y ears of age (N=97) in Goteborg, Sweden. People living in sheltered acc ommodations were excluded. Dependence in ADL was measured by ''The Sta ircase of ADL''; dietary intake was measured by a Diet History (DH) qu estionnaire. Most persons had no difficulties, or were dependent on pe rsonal help in ADL at age 70 (females 70% males 80%), but the proporti on decreased at the age of 76 (females 43%, males 54%). The sample was divided into subjects without disability both at 70 and 76 years of a ge (N=41) subjects disabled only at 76 (N=31), and subjects disabled b oth at 70 and 76 years of age (N=20). Food choice was not affected by disability neither at age 70, nor at age 76. Dietary intake decreased between 70 and 76 years in all three groups. However, despite the fact that one could have expected a relationship between food and nutrient intake, and ADL, we did nor find significant relationships. The main reason might be that the group is relatively young, and with ADL probl ems mainly in instrumental ADLs. If might, therefore, be anticipated t hat such trends could be more marked in higher age groups. (Aging Clin . Exp. Res. 10: 324-331, 1998) (C) 1998, Editrice Kurtis.