Resting energy expenditure in relation to energy intake in patients with Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia and in control women.

Abstract

Energy intake and resting energy expenditure in relation to body composition were studied in female patients with Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia and in home-living non-demented elderly women. Patients with Alzheimer's disease tended to have lower body weight and higher energy intake (p = NS) than control subjects or patients with multi-infarct dementia. Resting energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the groups (1089 +/- 129 kcal/day for patients with Alzheimer's disease, 1078 +/- 102 kcal/day for patients with multi-infarct dementia and 1188 +/- 143 kcal/day for control women; mean +/- SD). Energy expenditure did not differ between the groups when calculated in relation to body weight or lean body mass. In institutionalized female patients with long-standing Alzheimer's disease the resting energy expenditure was not increased, but they tended to have low body weight despite a high energy intake.