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Nutritional Patterns and Weight Change in Alzheimer Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2005

Gisele P. Wolf-Klein ,
Felix A. Silverstone  and
Arnold P. Levy
Gisele P. Wolf-Klein
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Felix A. Silverstone
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Arnold P. Levy
Affiliation:
Parker Jewish Geriatric Institute, New Hyde Park, NY, U.S.A.
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Abstract

A nutritional study of 100 patients enrolled in an active geriatric outpatient teaching program was conducted to document the clinical impression of weight loss in Alzheimer's disease. All new patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on nutrition. Patients were evaluated by a geriatrician, then categorized using DSM-III and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. There were 34 Alzheimer patients and 60 nondemented patients with an average weight of 56.2 kgs and 66.1 kgs, respectively (p < .002). Of the Alzheimer group, 44% reported weight loss in the past five years compared with 37% of the nondemented group, despite a concomitant increase in food intake in 35% versus 7%, respectively. On a one-year follow-up, 92% of Alzheimer patients lost weight, whereas 57% of the nondemented patients actually gained weight. The increase in reported food intake, with a significant concomitant weight loss, raises some challenging questions as to the existence of a hypermetabolic state in Alzheimer's disease.

Type
Clinical Practice and Service Development
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , June 1992 , pp. 103 - 118
Copyright
© 1992 Springer Publishing Company

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