Exploring associations between diet and quality of life (QoL) among older adults in the context of healthy ageing

This thesis intended to build evidence for relationship between dietary intake and Quality of life (QoL) in both healthy and at-risk older adults in the context of healthy ageing and utilised data from two cohorts- a healthy cohort and an at- risk cohort of older adults. The thesis identified dietary patterns and its determinants among older Australians, assessed QoL and its trajectories among healthy older adults and investigated associations between dietary patterns and QoL in both healthy and at-risk older Australians. The thesis demonstrated a relationship between dietary patterns and QoL and when lacking, there was a mediating role played by diet. The thesis also identified gaps in existing tools for assessing diet and QoL and their application to the older adult population and the need for longitudinal studies in older adults exploring associations between diet and QoL.