title: Possible Predictors of Involuntary Weight Loss in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.
abstract: Loss in body mass (∆BM) is a common feature in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the etiology of this phenomenon is unclear. The aim of this cohort study was to observe possible ∆BM in AD patients following a standard institutionalized diet. Secondary objective was to identify possible predictors of ∆BM. To this end, 85 AD patients (age: 76±4 yrs; stature: 165±3 cm; BM: 61.6±7.4 kg; mean±standard deviation) and 86 controls (CTRL; age: 78±5 yrs; stature: 166±4 cm; BM: 61.7±6.4 kg) were followed during one year of standard institutionalized diet (~1800 kcal/24h). BM, daily energy expenditure, albuminemia, number of medications taken, and cortisolism, were recorded PRE and POST the observation period. Potential predictors of ∆BM in women (W) and men (M) with AD were calculated with a forward stepwise regression model. After one year of standard institutionalized diet, BM decreased significantly in AD (-2.5 kg; p < 0.01), while in CTRL remained unchanged (-0.4 kg; p = 0.8). AD patients and CTRL exhibited similar levels of daily energy expenditure (~1625 kcal/24h). The combination of three factors, number of medications taken, albuminemia, and cortisolism, predicted ∆BM in W with AD. At contrary, the best predictor of ∆BM in M with AD was the cortisolism. Despite a controlled energy intake and similar energy expenditure, both W and M with AD suffered of ∆BM. Therefore, controlled diet did not prevent this phenomenon. The assessments of these variables may predict W and M with AD at risk of weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, via Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2469-8787
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venturelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, via Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cè
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, via Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limonta
authors.affiliation: Mons. Mazzali Foundation, via Trento 10, 46100, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muti
authors.affiliation: Mons. Mazzali Foundation, via Trento 10, 46100, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarsini
authors.affiliation: Mons. Mazzali Foundation, via Trento 10, 46100, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brasioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, via Casorati 43, 47131, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schena
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, via Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006854:Hydrocortisone