Nutritional evaluation of geriatric patients with Alzheimer's disease in Southern Brazil: case-control study

Abstract Introduction: elderly's malnutrition is linked, among other factors, to chronic-degenerative diseases, requiring an improvement in the clinical evaluation of nutritional status of this population. Studies have tried to find out new tools to assess aged-people nutritional status. One of most used scales to investigate nutritional status on geriatric patients is the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Objective: the present study aims to evaluate nutritional status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, by comparison with a control group, via Mini Nutritional Assessment. Methods: a cross-sectional study, which includes 35 alzheimer's old-people and 43 control old-people, was performed evaluating nutritional status with MNA. Results: total score of MNA in the alzheimer group shows that 71.42% were in malnutrition risk, 14.28% were malnourished and 14.25% presented normal nutritional status. In addition, in the control group 79.06% of patients (n = 34) were classified as having normal nutritional status and 20.93% (n = 9), as being at risk of malnutrition. Conclusion: results reinforce the purpose that MNA can be used as a proper instrument to evaluate nutritional status in elderly, mainly in AD, because measuring risk and nutritional status of this population is indispensable. Resumen Introducción: la malnutrición en ancianos está vinculada, entre otros factores, con patologías crónicas degenerativas, por lo que es necesaria una mejora en la evaluación clínica del estado nutricional de esta población en particular. Algunos estudios han intentado hallar nuevas herramientas para evaluar el estado nutricional de los ancianos. Una de las escalas más utilizadas para la investigación del estado nutricional en pacientes geriátricos es el test Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Objetivo: el objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el estado nutricional de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer mediante la comparación con un grupo control, vía Mini Nutritional Assessment. Métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal que incluyó a 35 ancianos con alzhéimer y 43 ancianos control para evaluar el estado nutricional con MNA. Resultados: la puntuación total del MNA en el grupo con alzhéimer muestra que el 71,42% de los pacientes estaba en riesgo de malnutrición, el 14,28% estaba desnutrido y el 14,25% presentaba un estado de nutrición normal. Además, en el grupo control, el 79,06% (n = 42) presentó un estado de nutrición normal y el 20,93% (n = 9) mostró riesgo de malnutrición. Conclusión: los resultados refuerzan la idea de que el MNA puede ser utilizado como un instrumento apropiado para evaluar el estado nutricional en ancianos, principalmente en caso de alzhéimer, porque la medida del riesgo y del estado nutricional de esa población es indispensable

Effect of Curcumin on Clzheimer's disease: a systematic review / Efeito da Curcumina na doença de Alzheimer: revisão sistemática

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques, tau fibrils and generalized neuroinflammation, which lead to functional and memory impairment. Without treatment, several adjuvants are used, such as curcumin. In this context, the objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of curcumin on Alzheimer's disease. The search for “curcumin” + “alzheimer’s disease” resulted from 354 articles, of which 6 were included in this review. Despite the scarcity of research in humans, curcumin proved to be an excellent adjunct to the treatment of the disease, evidenced by its benefits in memory and cognitive function, given by the reduction of the accumulation of senile plaques. In this context, the physiotherapist has full support in recommending periods of administration, provided that they are in safe doses, in order to minimize neurological deficits in these patients

Adequacy of food consumption in elderly Alzheimer's disease in a community of Southern Brazil: a Cross-sectional study

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, with a multifactorial etiology, in which the person has great difficulty identifying feelings of hunger, satiety, and feeding, which may affect their nutritional status. Pathologically, it is associated with neurodegeneration of synapses followed by neuronal loss, accompanied by glial proliferation surrounded by neurofibrillary tangles, beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) deposition, inflammation and cerebrovascular injury hindering the ability to perform activities of daily living. This study aimed to analyze quantitatively the differences between an elderly group with AD and a control group, in terms of macro and micronutrient consumption evaluation. Methods: the study involved 69 participants who were assessed via collection of anthropometric measurements (weight, height and body mass index) with nutritional status being assessed by 24-hour food recall and three-day food record. Cognitive assessments were performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Ranting (CDR). Results: The intake of lipids in patients with severe dementia, was lower (p <0.05). The consumption of proteins showed a decrease with demential advance. For vitamins, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the amount of thiamine, niacin, vitamin D, E and K and calcium, chromium and iodine minerals, which were significantly reduced in AD patients (p <0.05). Conclusions: Decreases in macronutrient and micronutrient consumption may result in a consequent impairment of nutritional status, dementia progression, and decreased quality and life expectancy of elderly patients with AD

Aumento de força máxima após privação visual em homens saudáveis

The objective of the present study was to analyze the possible changes in strength by means of a maximal repetition (1RM) with and without visual deprivation. The sample consisted of 20 male participants, aged 23.60 ± 3.15 years, body weight 83.65 ± 8.76 kg, height 1.80 ± 0.07 cm, BMI 25.86 ± 2.40 kg / m 2, healthy, adept at strength training. The test sessions were performed for the exercises: Horizontal supine (SH) and leg press 45 ° (LP). Student's t test was used to compare the 1RM tests in different methodologies (with and without visual deprivation). The use of eye sales stimulated significant increases in 1RM loading surveys in relation to non-use of horizontal bench press (0.7% p <0.001) and leg press 45 ° (8.5% p <0.001). The results demonstrate that the use of sales (visual deprivation) can result in the increase of the displaced overload, reaching the true capacity of lifting of load in trained men. Concluding that without visual deprivation, individuals are likely to underestimate their performance by visualizing the overhead used, failing to realize their true maximum load.O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar as possíveis alterações na força por meio de uma repetição máxima (1RM) com e sem privação visual. A amostra foi composta por 20 homens participantes, com idade 23.60 ± 3.15 anos, peso corporal 83.65 ± 8.76kg, estatura 1.80 ± 0.07cm, IMC 25.86 ± 2,40 kg/m², saudáveis, adeptos ao treinamento de força. Foram realizadas as sessões de testes para os exercícios: Supino horizontal (SH) e leg press 45° (LP). Foi utilizado o teste t student com a finalidade de comparar os testes de 1RM em diferentes metodologias (com e sem privação visual). A utilização das vendas nos olhos estimulou aumentos expressivos em levantamentos de carga nos testes de 1RM em relação a não utilização de vendas no exercício supino horizontal (0,7% p<0,001) e leg press 45° (8,5% p<0,001). Os resultados demonstram que a utilização de vendas (privação visual) pode resultar no aumento da sobrecarga deslocada, alcançando a verdadeira capacidade de levantamento de carga em homens treinados. Concluindo que sem a privação visual os indivíduos provavelmente subestimam o seu desempenho ao visualizar a sobrecarga utilizada, não obtendo sua real carga máxima