from Journal of Nutrition
Food insecurity may increase cognitive
decline in older adults. Food insecurity is
defined as a consistent lack of enough food
for an active, healthy life whether a
temporary or long-lasting situation. Penn
State researchers studied older adults living
with food insecurity compared to those
benefiting from the government’s
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP). They found cognitive decline in the
food insecure group was equivalent to
mentally being nearly four years older—
significant when already at an advanced
age. The study, in the Journal of Nutrition,
points to the importance SNAP can have in
improving people’s health as they age and
encourages greater access to the federallyfunded
nutrition assistance program.