[Malnutrition and dementia: importance of care during food intake].
Aim of this work is to assess the effects on nutritional status of appropriate care in food intake in demented patients. In a long term care in Turin, we enrolled 96 patients aged 75-103 years free from metabolic, hematologic and neoplastic diseases and not showing signs of acute illness. Seventy seven of these patients were affected by dementia. No statistically significant differences were found between demented patients and controls in nutritional status and daily nutrient intake and only need for care in food intake was independently associated with dementia. Our data demonstrate that similar caloric intakes can be obtained in demented and non demented patients with an appropriate level of care in food intake.
Molaschi
Mario
M
Cattedra di Geriatria, Dipartimento di Disciplina Medico-Chirurgiche, Università, Torino.
Scarafiotti
Carla
C
Ponzetto
Maria
M
Raspo
Silvio
S
Bo
Mario
M
Massaia
Massimo
M
Fabris
Fabrizio
F
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012737:Sex Factors