Holly Wild

PhD STUDENT PROFILE

Holly Wild

Protein intake and healthy ageing In community-dwelling older adults

Main Supervisor: Professor Danijela Gasevic
Co-Supervisors: Dr Alice Owen, Professor Dragan Ilic

Holly is a PhD candidate with the Behavioural and Social Epidemiology Research Group, and a lecturer for the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Her PhD focuses on the relationship between dietary protein intake and chronic disease and mortality in adults over 70 years of age and includes studies on the impact of nut consumption and survival-free from disability and the association between egg consumption and mortality.

Inadequate protein intake in older adults can lead to conditions like sarcopenia and frailty. Despite increased protein intake recommendations for Australians over 70, many do not meet these guidelines. As the population ages, evidence-based dietary guidelines are essential to improve diets and reduce chronic disease, thus continued research on dietary intake and behaviours in older adults is essential.