Ep. 82 - Exploring Nutrition and Aging. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA). Trinity College. Dublin. Ireland. Deirdre O’Connor.

On this episode we are grateful to have Deirdre O’Connor. Deirdre has been at Trinity College in Dublin for over 10 years, focused on The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) and more recently on Nutritional Epidemiology, where she recently earned her Ph.D.  She is also a Public Health Nutrition Consultant.  We are meeting with Deirdre in Dublin at Trinity College.

 

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Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com for YouTube videos, this week's recipe, interviews, books, research.

 

Look for information on Deirdre  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-o-connor-ph-d-75b57064

 

Other Websites mentioned by Deirdre  https://tilda.tcd.ie

 

What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

 

Cleveland Kitchen https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

 

Segment Notes:

Breakfast: Toast and Jam, but usually Greek Yogurt with Fruit  1:14

TIDLA Defined: NICOLA, ELSA, HRS  2:43

-        TILDA Pilot 2006, Started in 2009

-        Ages 50+ of 8,000 Adults with In-Person Interviews and Questionnaires

The Importance of TILDA: Planning for the Future  9:03

-        Age better with dignity and live longer 

-        Personal Negative Perceptions Impact Your Cognitive Decline

-        Study found high percentages of population with undiagnosed high blood pressure impacts future stroke risk

-        Medical Services – Future Unmet Needs of an Aging Population 

-        TILDA resources inclined a Medical Director, Geriatrician, Nurses

Where is This Leading  13:15

-        Continue the Study, Compare with other Studies Around the World  

-        600 Peer-Reviewed Publications using the TILDA data 

-        2024 Designated a WHO Collaboration Center for Longitudinal Studies on Aging

-        TILDA Data Informing Global Policy on Aging

Actions from TILDA  15:49

-        Informing participants if dangerously high readings

-        By and Large, Do Not Interfere with Patients Lives

-        Policy: Cited in over 400 Policy Documents in Ireland and internationally

-        TILDA input into Planning for Housing, Universal Health Care 

-        Falls Research – walking speed related to a fall probability affects an increase in the risk of mortality

-        Hospitals Using TILDA data to develop a Falls Assessment. this reduces Hospital Length of Stays and Repeat Visits

Deirdre’s PHD Research and Food  20:50 

-        PHD studying B12 and Folate Affects on Cognitive Decline

-        Lack of Folate Acid in Ireland leads to high rates of neural tube defects at birth

-        Adding Folic Acid in Foods is Voluntary and the Lower Cost Foods do not add 

-        In TILDA and older adults, low Folate was a Predictor of Cognitive Decline

-        Folates comes naturally from Green Leafy Vegetables and Fruits 

-        The Food Pyramid: Inappropriate in General, but especially for Older Adults

-        Older Adults who did eat More Fruits and Vegs were higher income and female

-        Study Pointed to the Widening Social Inequality Piece

Supplements vs Food and Testing  32:48

-        $100 Test May Still be too Expensive for Many

-        What Changes can Bring Everyone Up

-        Folic Acid for all woman of child bearing age

-        Vitamin D Recommended for Everyone in Ireland Year round

-        Food Affordability a Factor 

-        Food Education – a lot of people don’t know What to Prepare, How to Cook

-        Eat the Rainbow, Fiber is a Forgotten Hero

-        If eating red or processed meats be sure to also eat enough fiber  

Food as Medicine  40:35

-        Teach people how to feed themselves properly

-        Needs to start in school and cook with parents at home

-        Social Media can Have a Positive Impact on Cooking

-        Ireland is starting to Provide Meals for Primary Schools

-        What Food is Local: Accessible, Affordable and Nutritious Where You Live 

Food Swamps  46:54

-        Food Swamp – A Lot of Access to Terrible Food 

-        How Do You Make Nutritious Food Affordable and Accessible? Make-Grow it Locally, Make it Convenient

-        Batch Cook and Freeze on the Weekends for the Week 

Loneliness  50:32

-        Distinction between Loneliness and Social Isolation

-        Loneliness can lead to Cognitive Issues

-        Not Motivated to Make a Nutritious Meal if your Alone

-        The Social Connectedness when Eating is Important

-        Deidre’s 101 year old Nana’s Appetite Increases when She Visits 

-        Be Part of a Community, Have a Purpose

Unconscious or Mindless Eating  54:19

-        Eating in front of a TV you will eat 30% more  

The Recipe:  Chicken (or chickpeas) Curry with Spinach  55:03

-        High quality frozen vegetables in Ireland and they are affordable

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