Dementia and Nutrition. Intervention study in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer disease.
OBJECTIVE
To know nutritional status of a group of institutionalized patients with moderate Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and to ascertain the effects of an intervention with nutritional supplements on morbidity and mortality after one year follow-up.


METHODS
99 patients (mean age: 86.5 years), 80 women, with a diagnosis of AD according with NINCDS/ADRDA criteria, were recruited from 8 nursing-homes. 25 were included in an intervention group and received a nutritional supplements along 12 months. Evolution was evaluated according to the Functional Assessment Staging Test (FAST). Patients with FAST levels 5-6 were included. General clinical variables as well as variables reflecting cognitive state and nutritional status: anthropometric, biochemical data and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were analysed. Statistical analysis was carry out with the SPSS 10.0 package.


RESULTS
Mean time since diagnosis was 49 months, with a 20.2 months duration of institutionalization. Mean value of MNA was 20.1   3.5. 16.5% of patients had a BMI equal o lower than 21. After one year the intervention group showed higher levels of albumin (P=05), pre-albumin (P=05), iron (P=01), zinc (P=05), and beta-carotene (P=05) than the control group. The same response in BMI (P=05), MNA (P=05), and triceps skinfold (P=01). Mortality was lower (16% vs. 22.7%), without statistical significance, in the intervention group, as it was the number of infectious events (47% vs. 66% P=05), and the days in bed (7.5 2.1 vs. 17.3 5.6 P=05).


CONCLUSIONS
Nutritional supplements applied to a group of patients with AD living in nursing-homes can reduce morbidity and mortality after one year follow-up.
Gil Gregorio
P
P
Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Geriatric Department, Martín Lagos S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain. pgil@hcsc.insalud.es
Ramirez Diaz
S P
SP
Ribera Casado
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain