Recent food and drink innovations for seniors use nutrient fortification to support aspects of ageing like mobility, gut health and cognition.
Neha Srivastava, Senior Patent Analyst – Food & Drink and Beauty & Personal Care
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- What you need to know
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WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
- Seniors prioritise health, and seek tailored food and drink products
- Health conditions related to brain function, skin health and vision are linked to ageing by consumers
- Graph 1: conditions consumers aged 40-65 consider as signs of ageing, 2024
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PRODUCT INNOVATION TRENDS
- Food and drink products for seniors focus on bone health
- Graph 2: % of food and drink launches with a senior aged 55+ claim, which feature health claims, 2020-25
- Launches targeting seniors offer a wide range of health benefits
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THE PATENT LANDSCAPE
- Rising patent activity in foods for seniors highlights a growing focus on seniors’ health
- Graph 3: patents related to food and drinks for senior population, published each year, 2015-25
- Asian countries dominate patent grants for food and drink for senior consumers
- Nestlé and Danone lead in senior-focused food innovation
- Graph 4: top 10 organisations with granted patents related to food and drinks for senior population, 2025
- Boost bone density and prevent muscle loss
- Traditional bone health ingredients like vitamin D and calcium lead in launches with bone health claims
- Graph 5: % of food, drink, and vitamin and supplement launches with bone health claims, which contain selected ingredients, 2020-25
- Use protein and essential micronutrients to support muscle health
- Brands use ingredients that combat inflammation and support muscle strength
- Support cartilage regeneration and enhance joint health to boost mobility in the senior population
- Innovative solutions are reshaping mobility and bone strength
- Prioritise the digestive health of seniors
- Seniors are aware of ingredients that improve digestive health
- Graph 6: knowledge of, or interest in, learning about aspects of gastrointestinal/digestive health among consumers aged 55+, 2024
- Introduce gut-friendly ingredients to enhance senior consumers’ digestive health
- Support intestinal lining repair and gut immunity to aid seniors’ digestive health
- Use high-fibre foods and probiotics to ease constipation
- Support cognitive health in senior population
- Support cognitive health through nutrition
- Graph 7: % of food, drink, and vitamin and supplement launches with a brain and nervous system health claim, which contain selected ingredients, 2020-25
- Launches support memory, attention and information processing in seniors
- Use omega-3 fats and antioxidants to support cognitive health in seniors
- Use botanicals and mushrooms to boost cognition
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Key takeaways
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APPENDIX
- Research methodology
- Key patent examples for food and drinks for senior consumers
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