What is the effect of aging on the appetite increasing hormone ghrelin?

Ghrelin is known as the "hunger hormone" because it stimulates appetite and promotes food intake. As individuals age, there is a noticeable decline in the activity or secretion levels of ghrelin. This decrease can lead to reduced appetite, which is often observed in older adults. The change in ghrelin activity is thought to be one of the factors contributing to the common issue of unintentional weight loss in the elderly population. Understanding this relationship is particularly important for nutritional planning and interventions aimed at maintaining a healthy weight in older adults.

In younger individuals, ghrelin levels typically rise before meals and fall after eating, signaling hunger and satiety. However, with aging, both the physiological response to ghrelin and the levels of circulating ghrelin can diminish, impacting overall dietary intake and nutritional status.