Final answer:
Widespread issues in the geriatric population that contribute to nutritional and digestive problems include dental loss, a reduction in saliva volume, and oral dryness. These factors can lead to malnutrition and exacerbate other health conditions, affecting overall health and digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks what is widespread in the geriatric population and contributes to nutritional and digestive problems. The correct answer is c. All of these answers are correct. In the geriatric population, there is often a reduction in the volume of saliva, dental loss, and dryness of the mouth.
These conditions can lead to difficulty eating, which can cause malnutrition. Poor oral health can exacerbate other health conditions and potentially contribute to mortality in the elderly. Pathologies that affect digestive functions tend to occur more frequently as people age.
With the onset of gingivitis, the taste buds becoming less sensitive, reduced salivary gland function, and slow movement of food through the alimentary canal due to weakened muscular tissue, the digestive process becomes challenged. The combination of these factors can lead to maldigestion, malabsorption, and ultimately, nutritional deficits.
Psychological factors also influence appetite and digestion. Stress can reduce the secretion of digestive juices, impairing proper digestion and further complicating the geriatric population's ability to maintain adequate nutrition.