Diet & Chronic Diseases of Healthy Aging
![Woman holding a fork above a plate of vegetables in a salad](/sites/g/files/lrezom631/files/styles/large/public/2024-05/diet-chronic-diseases-486x729.jpg?itok=QdnNGdyI)
The prevalence of age-related chronic diseases, such as cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, and cancer increases with advancing years and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk, loss of independence, and elevated health care costs. To promote healthy aging, HNRCA researchers are advancing the scientific basis for how diet quality and physical activity influence cellular function, physiology, metabolism, and eating behaviors. Critical to achieving this goal is to elucidate mechanisms of action and identify physiologic states that modify age-related chronic disease initiation and progression by expanding our knowledge of the underlying processes responsible for these relationships. This is achieved by conducting investigations to identify dietary patterns, specific foods and food components, and physical activities that promote healthy aging and prevent the progression of age-related chronic diseases. The success of this research will influence guidance on improving dietary patterns and increasing physical activity to promote healthy aging and reduce the physical toll and economic burden of age-related chronic diseases.
By integrating clinical, basic, and pragmatic research, this research contributes to the evidence base on which strategies to address one of the leading public health challenges of the 21st century.
Objectives
- Define the impact of dietary patterns, specific foods, and food components, and physical activity on healthy aging and mitigation of age-related chronic diseases.
- Elucidate the mechanisms of action and identify the physiologic processes by which dietary patterns, specific foods, and food components, and physical activity promote healthy aging and mitigate age-related chronic diseases.
- Identify, develop, and evaluate assessment tools, biomarkers and surrogate markers of diet quality and physical activity that reflect healthy aging.
Team
Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc. (Lead Scientist)
Lisa Ceglia, M.D. (Primary appointment, Tufts Medicine)
Sai Das, Ph.D.
Bess Dawson-Hughes, M.D.
Stefania Lamon-Fava, M.D., Ph.D.
Joel Mason, M.D.
Nirupa R. Matthan, Ph.D.
Alexander Panda, M.D., Ph.D.
Kyla Shea, Ph.D.