Abstract
Malnutrition among dementia patients is an important issue. However, the biochemical markers of malnutrition have not been well studied in this population. The purpose of this study was to compare biochemical blood markers among patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). A total of 339 dementia outpatients and their family caregivers participated in this study. Low serum albumin was 7.2 times more prevalent among patients with DLB and 10.1 times more prevalent among those with FTLD than among those with AD, with adjustment for age. Low hemoglobin was 9.1 times more common in female DLB patients than in female AD patients, with adjustment for age. The levels of biochemical markers were not significantly correlated with cognitive function. Family caregivers of patients with low total protein, low albumin, or low hemoglobin were asked if the patients had loss of weight or appetite; 96.4% reported no loss of weight or appetite. In conclusion, nutritional status was worse in patients with DLB and FTLD than in those with AD. A multidimensional approach, including blood testing, is needed to assess malnutrition in patients with dementia.
Highlights
Cognitive function and nutrition are thought to have strong correlations
Mean patient age was lower in the frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) group than in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) groups
This study is the first to clarify malnutrition according to type of dementia by assessing biochemical blood markers of nutritional status
Summary
Cognitive function and nutrition are thought to have strong correlations. Weight loss associated with malnutrition often precedes the onset of dementia and increases in pace with progression of the disease [1]. Longitudinal cohort studies have reported that malnutrition itself is a risk factor for cognitive decline [2]. A possible correlation has been found between deficiency in specific nutrients (e.g., vitamin B12 and folate) and decreased cognitive function [3,4].
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