Geriatric Nutrition
Objectives
The UC Nutrition in Geriatrics has the general goal of transmitting knowledge about morphophysiological changes associated with aging and the most frequent pathologies subject to nutritional intervention. It is intended that students identify the effects of the aging process on critical organ systems and integrate nutritional skills to prevent pathological aging and to treat patients in geriatric age (>65 anos).
Although the UC Nutrition in Geriatrics focuses mainly on the population over 65 years of age, topics related to the aging process throughout the life cycle will be occasionally addressed and evidence-based knowledge that promotes healthspan will be transmitted.
Furthermore, it is intended to transmit a solid basis for critical scientific thinking in the interpretation of methodologies and results published in this area of knowledge (practical classes) and also to raise interest for future scientific projects in the field of research on aging.
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
a) Understand biopsychosocial aspects of ageing and its relationship with nutrition.
b) Identify and characterize the metabolic and biologic specificities and nutritional needs of the elderly population.
c) Recognize the role of the nutrition professional within these policies and programs and as a promoter of healthy aging in the population.
d) Outline an individualized nutritional care plan, according to an integrated multi-professional approach.
e) Critically comment scientific articles and present and discuss a scientific topic.
General characterization
Code
41033
Credits
Available soon
Responsible teacher
Margarida Martins Oliveira,ANA CATARINA DOMINGUES PEREIRA SANTOS,SUSANA ISABEL MATEUS SANTOS
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 0
Teaching language
PT
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Bibliography
Not applicable
Teaching method
The course is organized in lectures and practical classes: 2 weekly lectures for all students with a duration of 50 min each; 1 practical class per week of 90 min, in classes with a maximum of 15-20 students. The practical classes are carried out in classrooms where Clinical Case Studies will be discussed or Journal Club presented.
Evaluation method
The evaluation has a practical component and a final exam, both graded from 0 to 20.
The assessment of the practicals is continuous, corresponds to 40% of the final grade, and takes into account the following criteria:
- Performance and attendance:
Participation: active role in promoting debate and discussion during the practical classes (e.g. by asking relevant questions);
- Quality of practical reports and/or presentations of "Clinical Case Studies" and "Journal club":
Critical thinking: demonstration of reasoning and critical skills during discussions and presentations;
- Attitude and knowledge demonstrated by the student:
Demonstration of knowledge acquisition when questioned by the professor.
The final exam is 60% of the final grade, is a multiple-choice question exam, and covers all the lectures and practical topics. The presence in the examination is conditional to attendance of at least 2/3 of the practical classes and a practical component grade of at least 9.5. Regardless of the grade of the practical component, passing the final exam is mandatory to pass the course (i.e., the final exam grade must be higher than 9.5).
Grade improvement: students wishing to improve their grade will take a final exam that corresponds to 60% of the final grade, always considering the classification obtained in the practical component.
Special Status Students: Students with a special status, whose regulations exempt them from the obligation to attend practical classes, may, however, choose to attend practical classes, and be subject to continuous assessment, like other ordinary students (a presence in the final exam is subject to attendance of at least 2/3 of the practical classes and that the grade of the practical classes is at least 9.5).
However, they can also choose not to attend the practical classes (and forgo continuous assessment), and all the syllabus (theoretical and practical) will be assessed in a final written test quoted at 100% (final evaluation). In this case, the final exam will include an extra component (in addition to the multiple-choice questions), with open-ended questions that will focus on the practical content (Clinical Case Studies and the scientific articles presented in the Journal Club).
Students with a Special Status must inform the professor, at the beginning of the semester, how they intend to be evaluated (continuous assessment or final evaluation).
Subject matter
Lectures (28h)
1. Aging biology.
2. Clinical assessment of the elderly: global assessment and nutritional screening/assessment.
3. Nutritional needs of the elderly.
4. Malnutrition in the geriatric population.
5. Aging of the Musculoskeletal System.
6. Aging of the Endocrine System.
7. Aging of the Gastrointestinal System.
8. Modification of the nutritional status of the elderly: adapted basic food and oral nutritional supplements.
9. Aging of the Nervous System.
10. Aging of the Cardiovascular System.
11. Aging of the Respiratory System.
12. Aging of the Immune System.
13. Aging of the Urinary System.
14. Aging of the Homeostatic System (hydro-electrolytic).
15. Nutrition and physical activity in aging: relevance and metabolic considerations.
16. Aging, polypharmacy and drug-nutrient interaction.
17. Aging and oncology.
18. Nutritional intervention in the elderly with oncological pathology.
19. Palliative nutritional intervention in the elderly.
20. Diet and healthspan: effects of caloric restriction and intermittent fasting.
Practical classes (21h)
21. Study and discussion of clinical cases, and presentation and discussion of scientific articles (Journal club).