Abstract
BackgroundMalnutrition is common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is associated with institutionalization and increased mortality. Malnutrition is the result of a negative energy balance, which could be due to reduced dietary intake and/or higher energy expenditure. To study underlying mechanisms for malnutrition, we investigated dietary intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) of patients with AD dementia, MCI, and controls. In addition, we studied associations of global cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)) and AD biomarkers with dietary intake and REE.MethodsWe included 219 participants from the NUDAD project, 71 patients with AD dementia (age 68 ± 8 years, 58% female, MMSE 24 ± 3), 52 with MCI (67 ± 8 years, 42% female, MMSE 26 ± 2), and 96 controls (62 ± 7 years, 52% female, MMSE 28 ± 2). We used a 238-item food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake (energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat). In a subgroup of 92 participants (30 patients with AD dementia, 22 with MCI, and 40 controls) we measured REE with indirect calorimetry. Between-group differences in dietary intake and REE were tested with ANOVAs. In the total sample, linear regression analyses were used to explore potential associations of MMSE score and AD biomarkers with dietary intake and REE. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, and body mass index or fat-free mass.ResultsPatients with AD dementia and MCI did not differ from controls in total energy intake (1991 ± 71 and 2172 ± 80 vs 2022 ± 61 kcal/day, p > 0.05) nor in protein, carbohydrate, or fat intake. Patients with AD dementia and MCI had a higher REE than controls (1704 ± 41 and 1754 ± 47 vs 1569 ± 34 kcal/day, p < 0.05). We did not find any association of MMSE score or AD biomarkers with dietary intake or REE.ConclusionsWe found a higher REE, despite similar energy intake in patients with AD and MCI compared to controls. These findings suggest that elevated metabolism rather than reduced energy intake explains malnutrition in AD. These results could be useful to optimize dietary advice for patients with AD dementia and MCI.
Highlights
Malnutrition is common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is associated with institutionalization and increased mortality
Patients with AD dementia and MCI were older and had a lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score compared to controls, and patients with AD dementia were lower educated than patients with MCI and controls
Dietary intake Energy intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was 1991 ± 71 kcal/day for patients with AD dementia, 2172 ± 82 kcal/day for patients with MCI, and 2022 ± 61 kcal/day for controls and did not differ across groups (Table 2)
Summary
Malnutrition is common in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is associated with institutionalization and increased mortality. Malnutrition is the result of a negative energy balance, which could be due to reduced dietary intake and/or higher energy expenditure. To study underlying mechanisms for malnutrition, we investigated dietary intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) of patients with AD dementia, MCI, and controls. Malnutrition reflects a negative energy balance, which can arise from a reduced energy intake, a higher energy expenditure, or a combination of both. To date, it is unclear what causes the negative energy balance in patients with MCI or AD dementia. One could hypothesize that dietary intake or energy expenditure change as an effect of Alzheimer-related brain changes, reflected by AD biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
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