Plasma selenium is positively related to performance in neurological tasks assessing coordination and motor speed.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative process affecting the striato nigral system (SN). Its etiology, although obscure, may involve oxidative damage. Selenium, an antioxidant, was shown to protect the SN in animal models.

Nutritional status in relation to balance and falls in the elderly: a preliminary look at serum folate.

Background/aim: In elderly persons, fall-related injury is a serious public health problem. We investigated the impact of essential nutritional elements on falls in the elderly.

Methods: Clinical function, balance, gait and disability tests and health and nutritional status assessments were performed.

Nutritional risk and health care use before and after an acute hospitalization among the elderly.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the nutritional status and health care use of community-dwelling elderly before hospitalization and determine risk factors for longer hospitalizations during 3 mo of follow-up.

Methods: During a 1-y period, we recruited patients 65 y and older admitted to an internal medicine ward at Soroka Medical Center (Beer-Sheva, Israel). Data were obtained regarding health and nutritional status and demographic and social characteristics.

[Low-weight and weight loss as predictors of morbidity and mortality in old age].

Background: Elderly individuals who experience weight loss are at increased risk of premature death and disability. These data contradict findings among younger populations, showing direct relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and chronic diseases.

Methods: In the following manuscript we reviewed papers published in medical as well as in nutritional journals in the area of weight change, morbidity and mortality in old age, since 1990.

Diet and eating habits in high and low socioeconomic groups.

Objective: We measured the difference of dietary intake and eating habits across socioeconomic statuses (SESs) in Israel.

Methods: Participants were randomly recruited from three high SES municipalities and three low SES municipalities in the Negev. Participants were interviewed at home with 24-h food questionnaires that included additional questions regarding health and eating habits.

High prevalences of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in elderly subjects in Israel.

The prevalences of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in the general Israeli population of elders has not been assessed. We measured plasma cobalamin and folic acid concentrations in 418 subjects from four institutions for the aged, 749 subjects attending 19 geriatric day centres and 104 healthy controls. Methylmalonic acid (MMA) and/or homocysteine concentrations were determined in subjects who had a cobalamin concentration <221 pmol/l or folic acid concentration <11 nmol/l respectively.

[Drug related taste disturbances: emphasis on the elderly].

Background: Taste disturbances are common among the elderly due to physiologic changes, diseases, and medications. As many as 11% of elderly persons using multiple drugs report taste aberrations. The main danger of taste decline and disturbance in the old is food-anhedonia, causing loss of body weight via decreased calorie and nutrient intake.