Nutritional interventions in the framework of a person-centered model of health care and geroprotection

Abstract

The existing system of prevention of age-related diseases that focused on cohort-based risk factors shows insufficient effectiveness; thus, practicable methodology of health promotion compliant with the principles of P4 medicine, with a special focus on nutritional interventions, is needed. The study outlines an algorithm of nutritional interventions designed in accordance with the principles of person-centered organizational model of healthcare. The algorithm is based on the modern concept of exposome and its influence on the key mechanisms of accelerated aging and pathogenesis of age-related diseases. The proposed approach to personalized nutritional interventions is implemented in three steps: (1) the need for nutritional intervention is identified through the evaluation of the signs and symptoms of health impairment and accelerated aging that have very probable association with suboptimal nutrition, (2) individual exposome factors are evaluated as potential sources of health problems, and (3) first-line nutritional interventions are selected and implemented. The algorithm focused on eliminating the shortcomings of the diagnosis-centered organizational model of healthcare prevailing worldwide: to enable early detection of distress, use of the most effective and affordable interventions (diet and nutrition), and maximum involvement of the patient in health management. The algorithm bears a good potential of automation through decision support for patients regarding health. The use of original questionnaires and patient-centered data reduces the cost and expands the possibilities of scaling the algorithms of intervention. The algorithm can become the basis for the wide introduction of the principles of predictive, personalized, and participatory prevention of age-related diseases.