Eating dinner alone harms older adults’ health: increased risk of physical and mental frailty
Research has revealed that regularly eating dinner alone can accelerate dementia development among older adults, leading to physical and mental fragility. This effect is linked to poorer nutrition and social isolation, both significantly impacting health.
Source Daily Mail
Eating alone weakens diet quality, as older people consume less protein, potassium, and other essential nutrients. Those who eat by themselves often prefer ready-made meals higher in salt and sugar. Furthermore, social isolation negatively affects the brain: mood declines, mental stimulation decreases, and cognitive functions weaken.
Therefore, encouraging social interaction during meals may be an important strategy to preserve the physical and mental health of older adults in the future.
