[Nutritional status in Alzheimer's disease]. / Estado nutricional na doença de Alzheimer.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nutritional status of elderly subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Subjects of both genders (n=40) diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, participated in the study. Socioeconomic status, activities of daily life, anthropometric, clinical and dietary profiles were surveyed. RESULTS: Of the total, 65% were female. More than 70% were capable of accomplishing daily activities by themselves. Subjects were eutrophic with a statistically significant difference of the arm circumference between the mild and moderate groups. As for illnesses secondary to Alzheimer's, 52% of the elderly presented hypertension, followed by arthrosis type alterations (17%). The mean consumption of energy and macronutrients in the elderly classified as mild dementia was of 1645 kcal, distributed in 53.7% of carbohydrate, 17.5% of proteins or 0.9 g/kg and 28.8% of lipids. For those classified as moderate dementia it was of 1482 kcal, distributed in 59.3% of carbohydrate, 16.1% of proteins and 24.6% of lipids. CONCLUSION: In this descriptive study of elderly outpatients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease, most presented a nutritional status of eutrophy, with adequate dietary intake of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and vitamin C, but with low dietary intake of vitamin E.

Estado nutricional na doença de Alzheimer / Nutritional status in Alzheimer's disease

OBJETIVO: Descrever aspectos nutricionais de idosos com doença de Alzheimer leve a moderada em ambulatório. MÉTODOS: A amostra contou com a participação de 40 idosos de ambos os sexos, diagnosticados com doença da Alzheimer (NINCDS-ADRDA) por seleção consecutiva. Foram realizadas avaliações socioeconômicas de atividades de vida diária, antropométrica, clínica e dietética. RESULTADOS: Do total, 65 por cento eram do sexo feminino. Ao se verificar a capacidade funcional, constatou-se que mais de 70 por cento dos idosos mostraram-se independentes para a realização de suas atividades de vida diária. Com base na avaliação do estado nutricional e na gravidade da doença, os idosos encontraram-se eutróficos, com diferença estatisticamente significativa na circunferência do braço entre os graus de demência. Quanto à presença de enfermidades secundárias à doença, 52 por cento dos idosos apresentaram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, seguido de alterações do tipo artrose (17 por cento). O consumo médio de energia e de macronutrientes dos idosos classificados no estágio leve foi de 1645 kcal, distribuídos em 53,7 por cento para carboidratos, 17,5 por cento para proteínas e 28,8 por cento para lipídeos, enquanto que aqueles no estágio moderado foi de 1482 kcal, distribuídos em 59,3 por cento para carboidratos, 16,1 por cento para proteínas e 24,6 por cento para lipídeos. CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo descritivo de uma amostra ambulatorial de idosos com DA leve e moderada a maior parte deles apresentou estado nutricional de eutrofia, com consumo dietético adequado de carboidratos, proteínas, lipídeos e vitamina C, embora com baixo consumo alimentar de vitamina E.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nutritional status of elderly subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Subjects of both genders (n=40) diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, participated in the study. Socioeconomic status, activities of daily life, anthropometric, clinical and dietary profiles were surveyed. RESULTS: Of the total, 65 percent were female. More than 70 percent were capable of accomplishing daily activities by themselves. Subjects were eutrophic with a statistically significant difference of the arm circumference between the mild and moderate groups. As for illnesses secondary to Alzheimer's, 52 percent of the elderly presented hypertension, followed by arthrosis type alterations (17 percent). The mean consumption of energy and macronutrients in the elderly classified as mild dementia was of 1645 kcal, distributed in 53.7 percent of carbohydrate, 17.5 percent of proteins or 0.9 g/kg and 28.8 percent of lipids. For those classified as moderate dementia it was of 1482 kcal, distributed in 59.3 percent of carbohydrate, 16.1 percent of proteins and 24.6 percent of lipids. CONCLUSION: In this descriptive study of elderly outpatients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease, most presented a nutritional status of eutrophy, with adequate dietary intake of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and vitamin C, but with low dietary intake of vitamin E.