From first signs to full support: how we redefine nutritional care for those with special dietary needs

Summary 

• Age-related decline refers to the gradual loss of physical strength, mobility, and cognitive function that comes with aging—changes which, if left unaddressed, can progress to conditions such as sarcopenia, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer’s disease. 
• Between these early signs and the onset of disease lies a critical ‘lag phase’—a window where targeted nutrition, as one important modifiable factor, can slow age-related decline, helping individuals maintain health and independence for longer.
• dsm-firmenich has evolved its Medical Nutrition portfolio—expanding its ingredients, taste solutions, and intake options offering—to support innovation in this space. Read on to discover expert insights from Tom Pugh, Senior Director of Global Marketing Medical Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, on why now is the right time to consider nutritional solutions addressing first signs of age-related changes and how brands can differentiate in this emerging space.

As we age, we naturally experience a decline in our physical and cognitive health, from muscle to memory loss, and over time these changes can lead to age-related conditions like sarcopenia or Alzheimer's disease. Many older adults turn to supplements such as calcium and vitamin D to support healthy longevity. Following this, medical nutrition products might be recommended, but only when adults have already developed visible or irreversible decline. While specialized nutrition remains essential—and an area where dsm-firmenich continues to provide strong support—there is a clear gap in delivering a full spectrum of nutritional solutions, particularly those designed to address the earliest signs of age-related change.

This is a missed opportunity to better support millions of adults as they age, alongside those living with established health conditions. That’s why we’ve evolved our approach at dsm-firmenich to help brands address this unmet need. Because we believe that the right nutritional care, delivered at the right time, can make a world of difference in the journey toward better health and maintaining independence. And we’ve got the expertise to make this a reality. 

To explore this emerging landscape, we sat down with Tom Pugh, Senior Director of Global Marketing Medical Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, to discuss how the industry can bridge this critical gap, and why now is the right time to act. “I’m really passionate about making the right nutrition available to individuals, introduced as early as possible so people enjoy life for longer. My dad first took me golfing when I was ten, and for decades we walked the course as equals. However, over the decades, I witnessed his strength and mobility naturally fade as he entered his more senior years—a reminder of how age chips away at us all. He remains an inspiration to me though since he’s still very active at over eighty. But I’ve seen others his age lose vitality much quicker. Those moments highlight to me the critical gap between when decline begins and when support usually starts.”

1. Why is targeting the early stages of age-related decline an exciting opportunity right now?

The world is changing, people are living longer, and unfortunately, the effects of aging on global health are more prominent than ever¹. Today, the reality is that most of us will likely spend our last ten years battling ill health. And too often, nutritional intervention happens only after significant decline has set in, accelerating the need for medical nutrition solutions.​ As such, there’s an exciting window of opportunity to help health last longer by addressing age-related changes earlier and slowing the effects of physical and cognitive challenges. This would ultimately extend health expectancy—the years we live in good health—and bridge the gap between quality of life and lifespan, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The impact of early nutritional intervention on age-related decline. [Adapted from The Longevity Lab]^2,3,4

“The decision to expand our portfolio to include age-related decline solutions was inspired by a groundswell of voices from patient advocacy groups, key opinion leaders, and researchers. These experts have consistently emphasized the need for earlier use of specialized nutrition products to delay deterioration, before diagnosis-stage intervention is required. Products like this are usually only recommended after visible and irreversible decline. Yet science shows that earlier, targeted nutritional support might significantly extend quality of life—not just for the patient, but also their families and caregivers.^5,6,7

“We’re seeing growing interest from our customers—including global leaders and regional players—who recognize the opportunity to support aging adults. This reflects a broader movement toward proactive, preventive care and helping people stay stronger, sharper, and independent for longer while also reducing future healthcare burdens. Together, these shifts make now the ideal time to expand from “treating” aging to supporting healthy aging earlier.”

2. How is a prevention-focused approach addressing specific unmet needs—among healthcare professionals, patients, and active agers?

There is currently a grey area where people begin to experience the early signs of age-related changes but are not yet at a clinical threshold where medial nutrition would be typically recommended. This leaves adults in a limbo phase where their symptoms could get worse as opposed to being properly supported. Our age-related decline solutions can fill this gap, enabling brands to create products that better support these individuals in staying healthier and happier for longer. 

“We remain strongly committed to helping our customers grow their medical nutrition business with specialized Premix expertise and advanced compliance solutions. However, there’s a clear need in the market for science-backed solutions that target the early stages of age-related declines. Healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers are all seeking options that go beyond “one size fits all,” and instead offer personalized, condition-specific support for aging well.

“We have a broader-than-ever portfolio of novel, science-based ingredients and deep-rooted expertise in medical nutrition premixes, putting us in a good position to support the development of interventions for age-related physical and cognitive shifts. Our science-driven ingredient portfolio addresses the full spectrum of age-related changes—from muscle and cognition to immunity and inflammaging. This is supported by our advanced premix and formulation expertise, which ensures our partners achieve the right balance of macro- and micro-nutrients.”

3. How can brands stand out in the increasingly crowded preventative health space?

Simply addressing the unmet need for more targeted age-related decline solutions will help brands stand out in the first instance. Then, within this space specifically, we can help our customers differentiate further with our unique ingredient combinations, proprietary formats, flavor technologies, and sensorial experiences.

“We have a deep understanding of the factors affecting adherence to oral nutritional supplements. For instance, we know that taste is a key barrier, with 49% discontinuing food-based nutritional care formats and 50% stepping away from drink-based options for this reason.⁸ With this knowledge, we can help our customers overcome the top compliance barriers that might arise in products for age-related challenges—like flavor and volume fatigue—with unmatched flavor and sensory capabilities. For example, we have the ability to create culturally relevant flavors that go far beyond ordinary chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavorings; promoting daily adherence to supplements.

“Our taste masking and appetite stimulation technologies even allow sensitive ingredients—like algal or fish-derived omega-3s—to be delivered effectively and enjoyably. Plus, we can help brands develop low-volume, high-impact formats optimized for those with diminished appetite or dysphagia, ensuring better patient experience and outcomes. Take our Mix-in protein granules powered by Sprinkle It Technology™ (SIT™) as an example. This first-of-its-kind format makes protein intake more enjoyable and convenient for older adults—allowing individuals to easily enrich a wide range of foods, meals, and snacks with protein in a few simple steps. Whereas Vertis™ CanolaPRO®—a plant-based protein isolate supporting muscle growth—exhibits the highest Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of all major plant-based protein sources, allowing brands to deliver more protein with less volume. In short, we help our customers turn high-potential science into high-compliance products that not only support health, happiness, and longevity, but also stand out.”

4. Looking ahead, how do you see age-related decline solutions evolving over the next 3–5 years?

“We expect to move toward even greater precision—not just by age, but by lifestyle, functional status, health goals, and cultural preferences. This will open new possibilities for segmentation, personalization, and innovation. Our role will be to continue enabling our partners with best-in-class ingredients, formulations, and sensory solutions that meet these evolving needs—helping people not just live longer, but live better.”

It's clear that there is an opportunity to help address age-related conditions earlier—and empower people to stay active and independent for longer. With our science-backed ingredient portfolio, tailored Premix solutions, cutting edge taste expertise, and innovative formats and technologies, we can create forward-thinking concepts that help improve the health span.