[Nutritional status in Alzheimer's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the nutritional status of elderly subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Subjects of both genders (n=40) diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, participated in the study. Socioeconomic status, activities of daily life, anthropometric, clinical and dietary profiles were surveyed.


RESULTS
Of the total, 65% were female. More than 70% were capable of accomplishing daily activities by themselves. Subjects were eutrophic with a statistically significant difference of the arm circumference between the mild and moderate groups. As for illnesses secondary to Alzheimer's, 52% of the elderly presented hypertension, followed by arthrosis type alterations (17%). The mean consumption of energy and macronutrients in the elderly classified as mild dementia was of 1645 kcal, distributed in 53.7% of carbohydrate, 17.5% of proteins or 0.9 g/kg and 28.8% of lipids. For those classified as moderate dementia it was of 1482 kcal, distributed in 59.3% of carbohydrate, 16.1% of proteins and 24.6% of lipids.


CONCLUSIONS
In this descriptive study of elderly outpatients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease, most presented a nutritional status of eutrophy, with adequate dietary intake of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and vitamin C, but with low dietary intake of vitamin E.
Machado
Jacqueline
J
Instituto de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ. jackmachado@globo.com
Caram
Carmen Lucia Barreto
CL
Frank
Andrea Abdala
AA
Soares
Eliane de Abreu
Ede A
Laks
Jerson
J
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors