From mitochondria to healthy aging: The role of branched-chain amino acids treatment: MATeR a randomized study.

RATIONALE: Malnutrition often affects elderly patients and significantly contributes to the reduction in healthy life expectancy, causing high morbidity and mortality. In particular, protein malnutrition is one of the determinants of frailty and sarcopenia in elderly people. METHODS: To investigate the role of amino acid supplementation in senior patients we performed an open-label randomized trial and administered a particular branched-chain amino acid enriched mixture (BCAAem) or provided diet advice in 155 elderly malnourished patients. They were followed for 2 months, assessing cognitive performance by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), muscle mass measured by anthropometry, strength measure by hand grip and performance measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the 30 s Chair Sit to Stand (30-s CST) test and the 4 m gait speed test. Moreover we measured oxidative stress in plasma and mitochondrial production of ATP and electron flux in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Both groups improved in nutritional status, general health and muscle mass, strength and performance; treatment with BCAAem supplementation was more effective than simple diet advice in increasing MMSE (1.2 increase versus 0.2, p = 0.0171), ATP production (0.43 increase versus -0.1, p = 0.0001), electron flux (0.50 increase versus 0.01, p < 0.0001) and in maintaining low oxidative stress. The amelioration of clinical parameters as MMSE, balance, four meter walking test were associated to increased mitochondrial function. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings show that sustaining nutritional support might be clinically relevant in increasing physical performance in elderly malnourished patients and that the use of specific BCAAem might ameliorate also cognitive performance thanks to an amelioration of mitochondria bioenergetics.

The association of indwelling urinary catheter with delirium in hospitalized patients and nursing home residents: an explorative analysis from the "Delirium Day 2015".

BACKROUND: Use of indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) in older adults has negative consequences, including delirium. AIM: This analysis, from the "Delirium Day 2015", a nationwide multicenter prevalence study, aim to evaluate the association of IUC with delirium in hospitalized and Nursing Homes (NHs) patients. METHODS: Patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including the presence of IUC; inclusion criteria were age > 65 years, being Italian speaker and providing informed consent; exclusion criteria were coma, aphasia, end-of-life status. Delirium was assessed using the 4AT test (score ≥ 4: possible delirium; scores 1-3: possible cognitive impairment). RESULTS: Among 1867 hospitalized patients (mean age 82.0 ± 7.5 years, 58% female), 539 (28.9%) had IUC, 429 (22.9%) delirium and 675 (36.1%) cognitive impairment. IUC was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.19-2.16) and delirium (2.45, 95% CI 1.73-3.47), this latter being significant also in the subset of patients without dementia (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.52-3.43). Inattention and impaired alertness were also independently associated with IUC. Among 1454 NHs residents (mean age 84.4 ± 7.4 years, 70.% female), 63 (4.3%) had IUC, 535 (36.8%) a 4AT score ≥ 4, and 653 (44.9%) a 4AT score 1-3. The multivariate logistic regression analysis did not show a significant association between 4AT test or its specific items with IUC, neither in the subset of patients without dementia. DISCUSSION: We confirmed a significant association between IUC and delirium in hospitalized patients but not in NHs residents. CONCLUSION: Environmental and clinical factors of acute setting might contribute to IUC-associated delirium occurrence.

Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Occurrence of Delirium in Older Medical Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether emergency department (ED) length of stay before ward admission is associated with incident delirium in older adults. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 75 and older without delirium at ED entry, coma, aphasia, stroke, language barrier, psychiatric disorder, or alcohol abuse (N = 330). MEASUREMENTS: On ED admission, individuals underwent standardized evaluation of comorbidity (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale), cognitive impairment (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire), functional independence (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living), pain (Numeric Rating Scale), and acute clinical conditions (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II). During the first 3 days after ward admission, the presence of delirium (defined as ≥1 delirium episodes within 72 hours) was assessed daily using a rapid assessment for delirium (4AT scale). ED length of stay was calculated as the time (hours) between ED registration and when the person left the ED. RESULTS: ED length of stay longer than 10 hours (odds ratio (OR) = 2.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-4.41), moderate to severe cognitive impairment (OR = 5.47, 95% CI = 2.76-10.85), and older age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01-1.13) were associated with delirium onset. CONCLUSION: ED length of stay longer than 10 hours was associated with greater risk of delirium in hospitalized older adults, after adjusting for age and cognitive impairment.