Nutritional status and cognitive function among the elderly population: Findings from a rural community of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Changes in nutritional status play an important role in progress of cognitive decline among the elderly. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and cognitive function among the elderly population and factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural community among 270 elderly individuals. Data was collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool (MNA) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Tool to assess the nutritional, status and cognitive functioning. Data was analysed using Chi square test and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Results: As per MNA scale, 63.3% of the participants are at risk of malnutrition and 8.9% are malnourished. Assessment by MMSE scale reported 25.6% having mild cognitive impairment and 11.1% having moderate cognitive impairment. Statistically significant difference was seen between age groups, presence of co-morbidity and categories of MNA tool. Almost two thirds of the participants belonging to mild cognitive impairment category were in the age group of 60-69 years and this difference was statistically significant. Moderate positive co-relation between mini nutritional assessment scores and mini mental state examination scores was reported and this was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study results report more than two thirds of the participants were at risk of malnutrition and were malnourished. Almost 40% of them had mild and moderate cognitive function impairment. The study has implications at policy level highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment and care and its integration into primary health care. Keywords: Nutritional status; cognition; aged.