The bidirectional relationship between depression and poor nutritional status in older adults

Project Summary

A high rate of multimorbidity and complex health challenges exist for older adults. Two chronic conditions among older adults include depression and poor nutrition status. Literature suggests there is a strong association between malnutrition and depression, which has been well established in cross-sectional studies. Depression can impact appetite and eating habits, contributing to an increased risk of poor nutrition status. Conversely, insufficient diet and poor nutrition status can contribute to brain function and mood regulations, contributing to an increased risk of depression.Although an association between poor nutrition status and depression exists, at present, this knowledge is not sufficient enough to infer the strength and directionality of relationship. Longitudinal analysis is required to further investigate the relationship. The proposed project will examine the bidirectional relationship between depression and poor nutrition status among older adults in Canada.