As we looked at in our recent blog post Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Brain-Healthy Behaviors, older adults often experience a variety of obstacles to building habits that support and nurture their cognitive well-being.
One such beneficial habit is eating well. The importance of consistently eating a healthy diet to maintain brain health is no secret, and a majority of adults over 40 say they want to eat healthily — yet most are not getting proper nutrition. The question is: Why not?
The reasons for the disconnect between wanting to eat healthily and actually following through are multifaceted. Some studies reveal that older adults have varying levels of accurate nutrition knowledge, with many relying on easily accessible — and sometimes inaccurate — information. Additional barriers to healthy eating include cost and accessibility.
To understand all this more clearly — including where technological solutions can help — in 2025 AARP conducted research into this topic and published its findings in Healthy Eating and Brain Health, a study that explores the attitudes and opinions of midlife-to-older adults when it comes to dietary habits and cognitive well-being.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
General Health and Healthy Eating
Most midlife-to-older adults self-assess their health as very good to excellent and believe it has stayed the same or improved over the past five years.
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More than three-quarters (76%) say their health is good, very good or excellent. Overall, just 4% say that their health is poor, but people over 65 are more likely to fall into that category.
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Somewhat fewer — 67% — report that their health is about the same, somewhat better or much better than it was five years before. Just 4% say it is much worse.
About half or less of people 40–65 say that their spiritual and emotional health, along with their mental well-being, is very good or excellent. However, only about a third or fewer report that they are doing well with healthy eating.
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People 65-plus are more likely to self-report very good or excellent spiritual and emotional health (54%), versus people aged 40–64 (42%).
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Similarly, people 65-plus report very good or excellent mental well-being (50%), a higher rate than people 40–49 (34%) and 50–64 (47%).
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Just 36% of those 65 and older say they are on track with nutrition and healthy eating, but even fewer younger adults make the same claim (20% of people 40–49 and 28% of people 50–64).
Almost 7 out of 10 people (69%) over 40 have undergone nutrient-related tests during primary health care visits, but only a third (34%) have discussed proper nutrition with their doctor. And while almost half (49%) of those same adults report that their knowledge of healthy eating is high, less than one in five (18%) find maintaining a healthy diet is easy, and one in four (25%) say it is difficult.
Nevertheless, most midlife-to-older adults believe in the power of healthy eating.
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A full three-quarters (75%) believe adopting healthy eating habits can lead to significant life improvements, regardless of age.
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Two in three (66%) believe that making small, gradual diet changes can lead to long-term improvements.
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Nearly as many (61%) believe eating healthy will result in positive changes with lab results and bloodwork.
Although understanding the benefits of healthy eating does not frequently translate into consistently eating a healthy diet, many say they want to do better.
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Those who are 50-plus are more likely (about 43%) to report they are currently trying to consistently eat a healthier diet and want to do more, compared to 34% of those who are 40–49.
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By contrast, 37% of people who are 40–49 say they do not currently have consistent healthy eating habits but want to start, compared to 35% of people 50–64 and 25% of people over 65.
Many report a variety of barriers to maintaining a healthy diet.
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Cost is the chief obstacle, with 38% on average agreeing that eating healthy can be expensive.
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About one in ten report that they don’t know what foods are best to eat, that cooking healthy food is too complicated, or that they don’t like the taste of healthy foods.
Nevertheless, many do report some healthy eating habits.
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71% say they drink plenty of water throughout the day.
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65% say the eat lean sources of protein such as poultry and fish.
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64% report they eat nutritious snacks like fruits and vegetables.
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62% say they eat foods in their natural state, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Role of Technology
Many who do not use health-related tools are interested in technologies that support healthy eating.
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58% have used or are interested in apps or websites that feature healthy recipes and cooking tips.
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41% have used or are interested in apps or websites that offer personalized meal plans based on dietary preferences and health goals.
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45% have used or are interested in online resources that provide educational content on nutrition and healthy eating habits.
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43% have used or are interested in using devices (such as a smart scale) that measure weight and other metrics, such as body fat percentage and muscle mass.
However, interest in some other healthy eating technologies is significantly lower.
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Only 30% have used or are interested in virtual cooking classes or AI-generated nutrition guidance.
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37% have used or are interested in apps or websites that help them track or log eating habits.
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37% have used or are interested in smart kitchen appliances, such as smart ovens and refrigerators.
Healthy Eating and Brain Health
Few believe that healthy eating is the most important factor in maintaining brain health.
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41% say that engaging the brain is the most important factor for long-term brain health.
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25% believe getting restorative sleep is the primary factor.
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14% say that managing stress is the most important factor.
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10% report that eating a healthy diet is the primary factor.
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5% say either consistent exercise and meaningful social connections are the most important contributor to brain health.
Nearly all (91%) midlife-to-older adults say they would eat a healthy diet if they were aware that it could reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease or cognitive decline. About half (47%) say they intend to make eating a healthy diet part of their routine to improve brain health, and about the same number (48%) have confidence they can achieve that goal.
Implications
Midlife-to-older adults are more likely to consistently eat a healthy diet if nutrition for brain health is part of a larger, holistic approach.
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Emphasizing the link between diet and brain health could encourage more consistent healthy eating habits among older adults.
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Educational campaigns that include practical strategies for maintaining a healthy diet can empower people to make better food choices.
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Tailoring dietary intervention strategies to particular age groups can enhance their effectiveness.
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Developing appropriate technologies that assist in maintaining healthier diets can provide valuable support to people trying to eat healthier.
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Understanding the reasons behind the lackluster interest in some healthy eating technologies can help in designing more appealing and user-friendly solutions.
The AgeTech Collaborative™ (ATC) ecosystem includes a number of organizations focused on helping people eat healthier, including three startups that recently became ATC participants: EatLove, which harnesses cutting-edge technology to crack the code of precision nutrition; Healthnix, which enables doctors to prescribe and bill for clinical nutrition in chronic pain care; and Miils, an easy-to-use grocery and meal planning tool designed specifically with older adults in mind. Together, these startups — along with all ATC participant organizations — turn insights into impact and embody the Collaborative’s mission to accelerate technologies that meet real-world needs and make aging easier for everyone.
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