Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care

Alba Malara, Giovanni Sgrò, Chiara Caruso, Francesco Ceravolo, Giuseppe Curinga, Grazia Francesca Renda, Fausto Spadea, Michele Garo, Vincenzo RispoliScientific Committee of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria, ItalyObjective: The interaction between dementi...

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Main Authors: Malara A, Sgrò G, Caruso C, Ceravolo F, Curinga G, Renda GF, Spadea F, Garo M, Rispoli V
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2014-01-01
Series:Clinical Interventions in Aging
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/relationship-between-cognitive-impairment-and-nutritional-assessment-o-peer-reviewed-article-CIA
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author Malara A
Sgrò G
Caruso C
Ceravolo F
Curinga G
Renda GF
Spadea F
Garo M
Rispoli V
author_facet Malara A
Sgrò G
Caruso C
Ceravolo F
Curinga G
Renda GF
Spadea F
Garo M
Rispoli V
author_sort Malara A
collection DOAJ
description Alba Malara, Giovanni Sgrò, Chiara Caruso, Francesco Ceravolo, Giuseppe Curinga, Grazia Francesca Renda, Fausto Spadea, Michele Garo, Vincenzo RispoliScientific Committee of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria, ItalyObjective: The interaction between dementia and nutritional state is very complex and not yet fully understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the interaction between cognitive impairment and nutritional state in a cohort of residential elderly in relationship with functional condition of patients and their load of assistance in long-term-care facilities of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria.Methods: One hundred seventy-four subjects (122 female and 52 male) were admitted to the long-term-care ANASTE Calabria study. All patients underwent multidimensional geriatric assessment. Nutritional state was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), whereas cognitive performance was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The functional state was assessed by Barthel Index (BI) and Activity Daily Living (ADL). The following nutritional biochemical parameters were also evaluated: albumin, cholesterol, iron, and hemoglobin. All patients were reassessed 180 days later.Results: A severe cognitive impairment in MMSE performance was displayed in 49.7% patients, while 39.8% showed a moderate deficit; 6.9% had a slight deficit; and 3.4% evidenced no cognitive impairment. In MNA, 30% of patients exhibited an impairment of nutritional state; 56% were at risk of malnutrition; and 14% showed no nutritional problems. Malnutrition was present in 42% of patients with severe cognitive impairment, but only 4% of malnourished patients showed moderate cognitive deficit. The statistical analysis displayed a significant correlation between MNA and MMSE (P<0.001), as did MMSE correlated with Activity Daily Living (P<0.001) and BI (P<0.05). MNA correlated with BI (P<0.001) and albumin (P<0.001). The follow-up showed a strong correlation between cognitive deterioration and worsening of nutritional state (P<0.005) as well as with the functional state (P<0.05) and mortality (P<0.01).Conclusion: The present study clearly shows that malnutrition may play an important role in the progression of cognitive loss.Keywords: nutritional state, dementia, elderly, nursing home, disability
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spelling doaj.art-e1dc1cc10e274e1f82781e29314c66a82022-12-21T19:30:58ZengDove Medical PressClinical Interventions in Aging1178-19982014-01-01Volume 910511015456Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-careMalara ASgrò GCaruso CCeravolo FCuringa GRenda GFSpadea FGaro MRispoli VAlba Malara, Giovanni Sgrò, Chiara Caruso, Francesco Ceravolo, Giuseppe Curinga, Grazia Francesca Renda, Fausto Spadea, Michele Garo, Vincenzo RispoliScientific Committee of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria, ItalyObjective: The interaction between dementia and nutritional state is very complex and not yet fully understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the interaction between cognitive impairment and nutritional state in a cohort of residential elderly in relationship with functional condition of patients and their load of assistance in long-term-care facilities of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria.Methods: One hundred seventy-four subjects (122 female and 52 male) were admitted to the long-term-care ANASTE Calabria study. All patients underwent multidimensional geriatric assessment. Nutritional state was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), whereas cognitive performance was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The functional state was assessed by Barthel Index (BI) and Activity Daily Living (ADL). The following nutritional biochemical parameters were also evaluated: albumin, cholesterol, iron, and hemoglobin. All patients were reassessed 180 days later.Results: A severe cognitive impairment in MMSE performance was displayed in 49.7% patients, while 39.8% showed a moderate deficit; 6.9% had a slight deficit; and 3.4% evidenced no cognitive impairment. In MNA, 30% of patients exhibited an impairment of nutritional state; 56% were at risk of malnutrition; and 14% showed no nutritional problems. Malnutrition was present in 42% of patients with severe cognitive impairment, but only 4% of malnourished patients showed moderate cognitive deficit. The statistical analysis displayed a significant correlation between MNA and MMSE (P<0.001), as did MMSE correlated with Activity Daily Living (P<0.001) and BI (P<0.05). MNA correlated with BI (P<0.001) and albumin (P<0.001). The follow-up showed a strong correlation between cognitive deterioration and worsening of nutritional state (P<0.005) as well as with the functional state (P<0.05) and mortality (P<0.01).Conclusion: The present study clearly shows that malnutrition may play an important role in the progression of cognitive loss.Keywords: nutritional state, dementia, elderly, nursing home, disabilityhttps://www.dovepress.com/relationship-between-cognitive-impairment-and-nutritional-assessment-o-peer-reviewed-article-CIANutritional statusDementiaElderlyNursing homeDisability
spellingShingle Malara A
Sgrò G
Caruso C
Ceravolo F
Curinga G
Renda GF
Spadea F
Garo M
Rispoli V
Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
Clinical Interventions in Aging
Nutritional status
Dementia
Elderly
Nursing home
Disability
title Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
title_full Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
title_fullStr Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
title_short Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care
title_sort relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in calabrian long term care
topic Nutritional status
Dementia
Elderly
Nursing home
Disability
url https://www.dovepress.com/relationship-between-cognitive-impairment-and-nutritional-assessment-o-peer-reviewed-article-CIA
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