The relationships between oral status, physical and mental health, nutritional status and diet type in elderly Japanese women with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To suggest methods for maintaining an adequate nutritional status for elderly patients with dementia by evaluating the relationships between oral status, physical and mental health, and feeding conditions.


BACKGROUND
Feeding difficulties in dementia patients are related to food intake, and failure to eat may be associated with weight loss in long-term care facilities. The relationship between compromised oral function and diet is still unclear.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 94 elderly women with dementia (mean age 89.6 +/- 5.6 years) from a nursing home was undertaken to investigate their oral, physical and mental and nutritional status.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in serum albumin (p = 0.0284), N-ADL (p = 0.0005), NM scale (p = 0.0004) and HDS-R (p = 0.0004) between denture wearers and non-denture wearers. However, there were no significant differences in body mass index between denture wearers and non-denture wearers.


CONCLUSIONS
A suitable type of diet and assistance with feeding could maintain the nutritional status of elderly patients with dementia if they are still feeding themselves. The nutritional support team will benefit from the participation of a dentist.
Sadamori
Shinsuke
S
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Division of Cervico-Gnathostomatology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. tsada@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Hayashi
Syouji
S
Hamada
Taizo
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003778:Dentures; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008603:Mental Health; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009909:Oral Health; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
D012709:Serum Albumin