Nutritional risk in outpatients of a geriatric neuropsychiatry clinic

BACKGROUND: There are few published studies investigating the nutritional status of elderly individuals with psychiatric disorders. This study aims to describe the nutritional status of elderly patients from a neuropsychiatry outpatient clinic, investigating their nutritional status according to the type of psychiatric diagnostic, specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression (DEP), and other types of dementia (OTD).METHODS: Elderly individuals from two outpatient clinics (n= 217) were evaluated for nutritional risk (using a validated tool) and for some anthropometric and biochemical measurements. RESULTS: We found a high prevalence of nutritional risk in the sample (about 60%). The major dietary problems found were low daily meal frequency and the low daily intake of water. Biochemical analyses indicated blood glucose and total cholesterol to be above the reference values, while hemoglobin and vitamin D were below the reference values. Anthropometric measurements did not differ between the groups with different psychiatric diagnostics, except for calf circumference, which showed to be lower in the OTD group (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found a high prevalence of nutritional risk, the differences between the diagnostic groups were very subtle. The nutritional risk is certainly associated with inadequate eating habits. It is necessary to seek strategies to improve the diet and other lifestyle factors in geriatric neuropsychiatry, in order to mitigate the negative outcomes brought about by the diseases.

Postnatal nutritional treatment of neurocognitive deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Ethanol is the most important teratogen agent in humans. Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to a wide range of adverse effects, which are broadly termed as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The most severe consequence of maternal alcohol abuse is the development of fetal alcohol syndrome, defined by growth retardation, facial malformations, and central nervous system impairment expressed as microcephaly and neurodevelopment abnormalities. These alterations generate a broad range of cognitive abnormalities such as learning disabilities and hyperactivity and behavioural problems. Socioeconomic status, ethnicity, differences in genetic susceptibility related to ethanol metabolism, alcohol consumption patterns, obstetric problems, and environmental influences like maternal nutrition, stress, and other co-administered drugs are all factors that may influence FASD manifestations. Recently, much attention has been paid to the role of nutrition as a protective factor against alcohol teratogenicity. There are a great number of papers related to nutritional treatment of nutritional deficits due to several factors associated with maternal consumption of alcohol and with eating and social disorders in FASD children. Although research showed the clinical benefits of nutritional interventions, most of work was in animal models, in a preclinical phase, or in the prenatal period. However, a minimum number of studies refer to postnatal nutrition treatment of neurodevelopmental deficits. Nutritional supplementation in children with FASD has a dual objective: to overcome nutritional deficiencies and to reverse or improve the cognitive deleterious effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Further research is necessary to confirm positive results, to determine optimal amounts of nutrients needed in supplementation, and to investigate the collective effects of simultaneous multiple-nutrient supplementation.

Efficacy of early treatment in patients with cobalamin C disease identified by newborn screening: a 16-year experience.

PURPOSE: Despite implementation of newborn screening (NBS), outcomes in cobalamin C disease (cblC) remain poor. Therapy with hydroxycobalamin and betaine is widely used, but dietary recommendations vary among metabolic centers. We present a longitudinal analysis of the relationship between metabolic control, diet, and outcomes in a cohort of cblC patients. METHODS: We completed a retrospective analysis of 12 patients with cblC referred for abnormal NBS results and followed in our center between 1999 and 2015. RESULTS: Of the patients, 87.5% had intellectual disability and 75% had retinopathy; 16.7% had one episode of mild acidosis. However, no patients manifested major metabolic decompensation. Developmental outcomes correlated more closely with initial metabolic abnormalities than with long-term metabolic control. Increased intake of medical foods resulted in better control but also perturbations in the ratios of essential amino acids and lower z-scores for head circumference. We found no relationship between diet and cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although dietary therapy for cblC patients improves metabolic control, few patients experience metabolic decompensation regardless of diet. Increased incomplete protein intake is not correlated with improvements in outcomes. Overall, outcomes are poor despite early initiation of therapy and regardless of the dietary strategy used.Genet Med advance online publication 02 February 2017.

Deterioro cognitivo, estado nutricional y perfil clínico en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Cognitive impairment, nutritional satus and clinical profile in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es una enfermedad progresiva, cuya prevalencia aumenta con la edad. Se caracteriza por su elevado número de comorbilidades, entre ellas el deterioro cognitivo, que ha ido adquiriendo gran relevancia clínica en los últimos años. Factores como la función pulmonar, la hipoxemia, la hipercapnia o las exacerbaciones contribuyen al deterioro de las funciones cognitivas. Se ha incluido el estado nutricional como un factor más que presentándose en la EPOC, contribuya también al deterioro de la funciones cognitivas. Objetivo: Evidenciar la relación entre el deterioro cognitivo, el estado nutricional y el perfil clínico de los pacientes que ingresan por exacerbación aguda de EPOC (EAEPOC). Metodología: Ciento diez sujetos hospitalizados por EAEPOC, divididos en dos grupos según su estado nutricional y evaluación a su ingreso de deterioro cognitivo, estado nutricional y perfil clínico. Resultados: Diferencias significativas entre grupos de estado nutricional en las variables antropométricas (sexo e IMC), capacidad funcional (Índice de Barthel y escala de Actividades de la Vida Diaria) calidad de vida (Euroqol-5D y SGRQ), calidad de sueño (Pittsburgh), estado de ánimo (HAD) y deterioro cognitivo (MoCa atención, MoCa abstracción). (p<0.05). Conclusión: Las funciones cognitivas se ven afectadas en pacientes EPOC con un estado nutricional alterado, en comparación con aquellos con un estado nutricional normal. El deterioro nutricional es un factor que contribuye al deterioro de las funciones cognitivas en este tipo de pacientes; en concreto al deterioro de la atención y la capacidad de abstracción (AU)

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease with a prevalence that increases with the aging of the subject. It presents a high prevalence of comorbidities, such as cognitive decline, which is gaining great clinical relevance in recent years. Factors such as pulmonary function, hypoxemia, hypercapnia or exacerbations contribute to the decline of cognitive functions. The nutritional status has been added to these factors as contributing to cognitive function decline when presenting in COPD. Objective: To evidence the relationship between cognitive decline, nutritional status and the clinical profile of patients admitted because of an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods: 110 subjects hospitalized because of COPD, divided in two groups according to their nutritional status and assessment of cognitive decline at admittance, nutritional status and clinical profile. Results: Significant differences between groups concerning nutritional status in anthropometric variables (sex and IMC), functional ability (Barthel index and Daily Life Activities Scale), quality of life (Euroqol- 5D y SGRQ), sleep quality (Pittsburgh), mood (HAD) and cognitive decline (MoCa attention, MoCa abstraction). (p<0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive function is affected in COPD patients with an altered nutritional status when compared to those with a normal nutritional status. The nutritional decline is a factor contributing to the impairment of cognitive functions in this kind of patients, particularly a decline in attention and abstraction ability (AU)

Uso de las sondas de alimentación en el paciente con demencia avanzada. Revisión sistemática / Use of feeding tubes in patients with advanced dementia. Systematic review

Introducción: La aparición de disfagia es marcador de la fase final de la demencia. Estudios hasta el 2000 ponían en entredicho los objetivos que justifican la colocación de sondas de alimentación, pero ésta sigue siendo una intervención frecuente en demencias avanzadas. Objetivos: Responder a las siguientes cuestiones según la evidencia disponible: La alimentación por sonda PEG en demencias avanzadas: ¿previene aspiraciones?, ¿previene desnutrición?, ¿aumenta la supervivencia?, ¿se tratan de manera paliativa? Metodología: Revisión bibliográfica. Estudios publicados 2000-2012. Inglés y castellano. Bases de datos: Pubmed, Google Scholar, Cochrane. Mesh: Dementia, Enteral nutrition, Nutritional support, Endoscopic gastrostomy, Tube feeding, Peg, Enteral feeding, Ethics, Quality of life, Palliative care, Dysphagia y Make decisions. Resultados: 96 artículos cumplían criterios para incluir en este estudio. 24 españoles, 72 publicaciones extranjeras. Las sonda nasogástrica y sonda PEG no están indicadas en pacientes con riesgo de broncoaspiraciones; las indicadas por la ESPEN tampoco las previenen. La guía ESPEN no considera indicado usar sondas de alimentación en la última fase de la demencia; la pérdida de peso es consecuencia de la enfermedad. Estudios señalan factores que afectan negativamente a la supervivencia. La mortalidad en los primeros 30 días tras la colocación de la sonda es muy elevada. La demencia no es asumida como enfermedad terminal, provocando ambivalencia en la toma de decisiones al final de la vida. La formación en cuidados paliativos no oncológicos es muy escasa, hecho que favorece instauración de tratamientos desproporcionados. Conclusiones: La alimentación enteral en la demencia avanzada sigue siendo una intervención frecuente, no hay evidencia que establezca que la alimentación por sondas prevengan las aspiraciones, ni se logre una mejora en el estado nutricional, prevenga la desnutrición o sus consecuencias. Tampoco se logra un aumento de la supervivencia, incluso hay estudios que plantean una disminución de la supervivencia. Estos pacientes no se benefician de cuidados paliativos, porque la demencia severa tradicionalmente no ha sido considerada como enfermedad terminal, aunque muchos estudios aseguran que se lograría una mejora de la calidad de vida en la fase final de la enfermedad (AU)

Introduction: The onset of dysphagia is a sign of the final stage of dementia. Studies up to the year 2000 called into question the objectives which justify the insertion of a feeding tube, but this continues to be a frequent intervention in advanced dementias. Objectives: To answer the following questions based on available evidence: Does feeding by PEG tubes in advanced dementia prevent aspiration? Does it prevent malnutrition? Does it increase survival rates? Are they treated palliatively? Methodology: Bibliographic research. Studies published 2000-2012. English and Spanish. Databases: Pubmed, Google Scholar, Cochrane. MeSH: Dementia, Enteral nutrition, Nutritional support, Endoscopic gastrostomy, Tube feeding, PEG, Enteral feeding, Ethics, Quality of life, Palliative care, Dysphagia and Making decisions. Results: 96 articles met criteria to be included in this study. 24 Spanish, 72 in international publications. Nasogastric and PEG tubes are not indicated in patients at risk of bronchoaspirations; neither do those indicated by ESPEN prevent them. The ESPEN guide does not consider the use of feeding tubes to be suitable in the final stage of dementia; weight loss is a consequence of the disease. Studies suggest factors which affect survival negatively. Mortality in the first 30 days after insertion of the tube is very high. Dementia is not accepted as a terminal disease, causing ambivalence in decision taking at the end of life. Training in non-oncological palliative care is very limited, a fact which can increase the establishment of disproportionate treatments. Conclusions: Enteral feeding in advanced dementia continues to be a frequent intervention; there is no evidence which establishes that tube feeding prevents aspirations, or that an improvement in nutritional status is achieved, or that it prevents malnutrition or its consequences. Neither are higher survival rates achieved; there are even studies which suggest lower survival rates. These patients are not benefited by palliative care because severe dementia has not traditionally been considered a terminal disease, despite the fact that many studies claim that a higher quality of life would be achieved in the final stage of the illness (AU)

Trimethylaminuria associated with seizures and behavioural disturbance: a case report.

A 16-year-old left-handed male is presented with a history of seizures associated with a fish-like odour and behavioural disturbances thought to be related to trimethylaminuria. His seizures were complex-partial (cursive) seizures and started at the age of 18 months. They occurred in the context of discrete episodes several times per year. The episodes would start with a fish-like odour, followed by seizures occurring in clusters and behavioural disturbance consisting of agitation, mixed affective symptoms, auditory hallucinations and delusions. A urinary assay of trimethylamine (TMA) was elevated, confirming the diagnosis of trimethylaminuria in this patient. He was treated with a choline-restricted diet with resolution of his symptoms. The occurrence of seizures and psychiatric disturbance in this patient was thought secondary to his trimethylaminuria due to the temporal relationship of his seizures and psychiatric disturbance with the odour and his response to treatment. The possible relationship of trimethylaminuria to seizures and to psychiatric disturbance are discussed and a review of the literature presented.

Unexpected white matter changes in an early treated PKU case and improvement after dietary treatment.

We report a case of classic phenylketonuria (PKU) treated by dietary restriction until the age of 5 years. At the age of 18 years, she developed anxious-depressive symptoms and deterioration of school performance. Neurophysiological investigations showed changes in VEPs and BAEPs and brain MRI showed white matter abnormalities. The return to a diet low in phenylalanine reduced psychiatric disturbances and reversed neurophysiological and MRI changes. Our data confirm previous observations of white matter involvement in PKU and the utility of lifelong dietary therapy to prevent neurological and/or psychiatric deterioration.

[Evaluation of mental status of children with malabsorption syndrome after long-term treatment with gluten-free diet (preliminary report)]. / Ocena stanu psychicznego dzieci z zespolem zlego wchlaniania po wieloletnim stosowaniu diety bezglutenowej (doniesienie wstepne).

The author examined 41 children, suffering from celiac disease with psychiatric methods and EEG. The children, aged 7-17 y., were many years on gluten-free diets. Various psychiatric symptoms were found in 48.8%, and EEG abnormalities in 70.7%. Only 9 children (21.9%) were free from any psychiatric disorders and EEG abnormalities.

The nutritional aspects of Rett syndrome.

Nutrition is a major problem for the Rett patient. We have studied 21 girls with Rett syndrome (19 typical, two atypical). We report our experience in this population with the nutritional aspects of Rett syndrome, the typical dietary habits, and various nutritional deficiencies. Further experience with the use of high fat diets is reported.

[Behavior problems in phenylketonuria. Attempt at a biochemical interpretation based on a personal case and a review of the literature]. / Les troubles du comportement au cours de la phénylcétonurie. Essai d'interprétation biochimique à partir d'une observation personnelle et d'une revue de la littérature.

We have presented the case of a 7 year old retarded child with psychotic like behavioral troubles. Biological studies are compatible with typical phenylketonuria. Two times, a low phenylalanine diet was followed by an improvement of the behavioral troubles, and the interruption of the diet by a relapse of these troubles. Biologically, an hyposerotoninergy was recorded by the lowering of the 5 HIAA renewal in CSF after probenecid, partially corrected by the low phenylalanine diet. From this personal case and a review of the literature, the authors discuss the biochemical interpretation of the behavioral troubles in the light of the serotoninergic deficit.