Pathophysiology of anorexia.
A physiologic decline in food intake occurs with advancing age. The physiologic anorexia of aging and its associated weight loss predispose older persons to develop protein-energy malnutrition. In older persons a variety of social and psychologic factors, diseases, and medications can aggravate the physiologic anorexia and lead to severe weight loss. Many of these factors are amenable to treatment, resulting in a reversal of the underlying malnutrition. This article first reviews the physiologic factors responsible for anorexia in older persons. It then reviews the major pathologic processes responsible for producing protein-energy malnutrition in older persons.
Morley
John E
JE
Division of Geriatric Medicine, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Boulevard, M238, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA. morley@slu.edu
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste