Abstract
Objectives: We studied the nutritional status and the effects of nutritional intervention on body weight, cognition and activities of daily life (ADL)-function in demented individuals.
Design: Controlled non-randomised study.
Setting: Group-living for demented elderly (GLD), ie community assisted housing.
Subjects and interventions: Twenty-two residents living in one of two units (GLD-I), received oral liquid supplements (1720 kJ/410 kcal/day) and the personnel of the GLD-I were given nutritional education. Fourteen residents in the other unit (GLD-C) served as controls. After 6 months 21 (83 (4) y, 81% women) and 12 (85 (4) y, 100% women) of the participants, respectively, were re-examined according to body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE, 0–30 p) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) and the Katz' ADL index.
Results: Body mass index (BMI) ≤20 was found in 19% of the participants and 44% had BMI≤23. BMI correlated with MMSE (r=0.43, P<0.01). The weight of the residents in the intervention group increased by 3.4 (3) kg (P=0.001) at follow-up, whereas the weight remained unchanged in the control group. The cognitive function was low at the start in both groups, ie MMSE∼9 and no apparent positive effect of the nutritional intervention was seen. In addition, the ADL functions appeared to deteriorate in both groups.
Conclusions: Being underweight was common among demented elderly in group-living and was related to low cognitive capacity. Five months of oral supplementation, along with education of personnel, was followed by a weight gain. In this study the nutritional treatment did not affect the rate of decline in cognitive function or Katz' ADL index.
Sponsorship: Supported by grants from the Swedish National Board of Health and Social Welfare. Semper Foods AB provided the liquid supplements.
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Acknowledgements
The work was carried out in co-operation with the Skärholmen and Brännkyrka District Council. We thank Mrs Sonia Mattsson, Mrs Eeva Eriksson, Mrs Marianne Popovski, Mrs Eira Granström, Mrs. Maj-Lis Styrwolt and Mr. Göran Henriksson for their committed involvement in the study.
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Faxén-Irving, G., Andrén-Olsson, B., af Geijerstam, A. et al. The effect of nutritional intervention in elderly subjects residing in group-living for the demented. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 221–227 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601304
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601304
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