title: Effects of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors on Nutritional Status in Elderly Patients with Dementia: A 6-month Follow-up Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nutritional status is one of the factors that affects disease progression, morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with dementia. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AchEI) therapy on nutritional status and food intake in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly diagnosed patients with dementia, who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and were followed at regular intervals, were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 116 patients, who began to receive AchEI therapy and completed 6-month follow-up period under this treatment, were enrolled in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Socio-demographic characteristics and data on comorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive function, depression, activities of daily living and nutritional status (weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)-Short Form) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 78.0±8.9 years. There was no significant difference between baseline and 6-month BMI, weight and MNA scores of dementia patients who received AchEI therapy (p>0.05). With regard to the relation between changes in BMI, weight and MNA on the 6th month versus baseline, and donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine therapies, no difference was determined (p>0.05). However, no worsening in food intake was observed (kappa: 0.377). When the effects of each AchEI on food intake were compared, food intake in rivastigmine treated patients was not decreased as much as it was in galantamine or donepezil treated patients (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AchEI therapy has no unfavorable effect on nutritional status or weight in elderly patients with different types of dementia, but it seems that food intake is better in those treated by rivastigmine patch.
authors.affiliation: Prof .Dr. Ahmet Turan ISIK, Dokuz Eylul Universitesi Tıp Fakultesi, Geriatri Bilim Dalı Yaşlanan Beyin ve Demans Unitesi, 35340 Balcova - Izmir / Turkey, Tel: +90 232 412 43 41, Fax:+90 232 412 43 49, E-Mail:atisik@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Isik
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077265:Donepezil; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005702:Galantamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068836:Rivastigmine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D005702:Galantamine; D000077265:Donepezil; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000068836:Rivastigmine