The elderly are naturally vulnerable to muscle wasting due to lowered efficacy of metabolic processes and undernutrition. This may lead to a significant loss of muscle function and a general decline in the quality of life.
CHOKO-AGE is a scientific project funded by one of the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) calls of the H2020 European programme (ERA-HDHL cofunded) that aims to tackle the age-dependent malnutrition and the metabolic decline of tissue through combining the health-promoting effects of nutrition and physical exercise. A novel type of chocolate superfood, particularly rich in polyphenols, will be developed in the world-famous Perugina chocolate factory, introducing the functional ingredient with anti-aging properties: Vitamin E. The effects of this innovative health-promoting food on indices of malnutrition will be investigated in elderly volunteers during 6 months of treatment combined with a tailored program of high-intensity-interval physical exercise. The “big data” produced during the study will then be processed with advanced bioinformatics tools by the technology partner Molecular Horizon, in order to verify the efficacy of the treatment and to define the final model of nutritional intervention and physical exercise. The project will be implemented by a consortium of five institutional scientific partners (the Universities of Perugia, Verona, Liverpool, the Molde University College , and the INCLIVA – Aging and Physical Exercise Research group of Valencia) and two private partners (Perugina, Nestlè Italiana SpA and Molecular Horizon Srl).
Research activities and all of the other tasks in this 3-year project started in April 2021, and have been funded with a budget of €1,068,632. During the project, various environments (e.g. retirement houses, schools, associations of patients, scientific institutions, etc.) will be engaged in communication and dissemination activities to make them aware of the importance of preventing age-associated malnutrition throughout all stages of life.
Research activities and all of the other tasks in this 3-year project started in April 2021, and have been funded with a budget of €1,068,632. During the project, various environments (e.g. retirement houses, schools, associations of patients, scientific institutions, etc.) will be engaged in communication and dissemination activities to make them aware of the importance of preventing age-associated malnutrition throughout all stages of life.
Research activities and all of the other tasks in this 3-year project started in April 2021, and have been funded with a budget of €1,068,632. During the project, various environments (e.g. retirement houses, schools, associations of patients, scientific institutions, etc.) will be engaged in communication and dissemination activities to make them aware of the importance of preventing age-associated malnutrition throughout all stages of life.
