The researchers started from the observation that the role of chrononutrition remained little studied in the elderly.
After 60 years, the rhythm of the days changes. Many elderly people fall asleep earlier at night, wake up at dawn, shift their meals … These changes reflect an evolution in circadian rhythms. The internal clock which adjusts the body on a cycle of approximately 24 hours gradually becomes old as an aging. Excessive disruption can weaken health and a particular factor would be harmful to the longevity of seniors, according to a recent study.
The researchers started from the observation that the role of chrononutrition-that is to say the meal schedule-was still little studied among the elderly. They wanted to understand how these schedules evolved with age and what impact it could have on life expectancy. For this, they followed nearly 3,000 volunteers on average by 64 years, who have completed detailed questionnaires for several years on their lifestyle, their state of health and the hours of their meals.
On arrival, they found that the elderly tended to have their meal more and later and that it was negatively influenced their life expectancy. According to the results published in the journal Communications Medicine, the 10 -year survival rate was 87% in the group eating late, against 89.5% in the group eating early. The most impactful being late breakfast, “With age, it is associated with a higher risk of death “. It is therefore the wrong habit to ban after 60 years. In the study, the volunteers had their breakfast around 8:20 am (at the earliest 7:40 am and at the latest 9 a.m.). Each hour late increased by about 10% the risk of mortality.
Breakfast is essential to fill up with energy. It ideally consists of a source of protein (egg, yogurt), cereals (oatmeal, wholemeal bread) and a fruit. For researchers, the elderly must maintain regular meal schedules, including breakfast hours, to preserve their circadian rhythms and age well. Future research is now necessary to confirm their results.
