Diseño de alimentos con texturas específicas para adulto mayor con alzheimer a través de impresión 3D

Abstract

Older adults, particularly those with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, have difficulties associated with reduced sensory capacity and physiological impairment of swallowing, which reduce food intake, contributing to malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies due to limited consumption of micro and macronutrients affect both homecare and institutionalized older adults. For this reason, looking for alternatives that lead to the health and well-being of this population at risk was essential. This research proposed to design foods from mixtures with a specific structure and composition for feeding older adults with Alzheimer's disease through 3D printing. The experimental phase was developed in three stages: (1) systematic literature review for the selection of patterns; (2) characterization of patterns in rheological and mechanical-acoustic (TPA-Audio) parameters, in terms of structure, for solid, semi-solid, and liquid matrices considering the degree of theoretical severity of swallowing limitation