“Silent emergency”: Lower-income adults over 50 face nutrition and mental health risks

According to new research, a stark reality is emerging for older adults above 50 — wealth directly impacts health. The study reveals that adults over 50 with lower incomes were nearly three times more likely to be depressed than their wealthier counterparts. Richer adults were twice as likely to be physically active and follow dietary guidelines.

The study underscores the importance of physical activity and dietary fruit and vegetable intake in reducing mortality rates. They are concerned about the prevalence of depression among adults above 50, which increases the chances of age-related disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease.

Depression linked to health and wealth

The researchers call this a “silent emergency” and call for urgent action to close the disparities.

“For older people, being in a lower wealth bracket might be a bigger barrier to good health than your age. Our research shows that poorer older adults are nearly three times more likely to experience depression and far less likely to meet government health guidelines than their wealthier peers. There is an urgent need for action to address these disparities before it’s too late,” says Dr Simon Evans, lecturer in Neuroscience at the University of Surrey.

Published in the Journal of Public Health, the study by a team from the University of Surrey, UK, analyzed data from 3,000 adults aged 50–59 in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Most adults (70%) were physically active, however, there were large differences based on wealth.

Wealthier individuals in this cohort reported 70% adherence to the WHO’s five-a-day dietary guidelines, which require eating at least five portions of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables daily. In contrast, only 40% in the lowest wealth bracket followed the diet. 

The study underscores the importance of physical activity and dietary fruit and vegetable intake in reducing mortality rates.The researchers postulate that the depression could be caused by failing to meet government physical activity and dietary guidelines.

Quantified rates

According to the study, just under 19% of the participants had significant depression symptoms, with women facing the largest risk, along with those living alone, smokers, and those in lower wealth groups.

Depression rates were approximately three times higher in the quintile with the lowest wealth (32.6%) than in the quintile with the highest wealth (11.1%).

The rates of depression were significantly lower among those who regularly exercised, with depression affecting 30% of inactive people and only 13.7% of active people. 

Consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day was also linked to a lower risk of depression. Rates of depression among those who did not meet the five-a-day recommendations were 23.4% and among those who did 15.7%.