Influence of Alzheimer's disease on the relationship between nutritional status and risk of fall

Although malnutrition and risk of falls in the elderly have increased in recent years, uncertainties exist as to whether these conditions are associated after controlling for sociodemographic variables, body composition, metabolic condition, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to analyze the association between nutritional status and risk of fall in the elderly population. Participants were matched by gender and age, after they had been grouped on the basis of diagnosis of AD. The risk of falls, nutritional status, and mental status were assessed using the Downton Fall Risk Score (FRS), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), respectively. Logistic regression modelsadjusted for the main confounders were used in the analyses. Among the 68 elderly individuals studied, participants who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition were more likely to fall (odds ratio = 8.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.49-46.04) than those with normal nutritional status, regardless of gender, age, education, body composition, and metabolic condition. This association did not remain significant after adjustment for AD, a potential confounder in this association. Malnutrition or its risk was independently associated with high risk of fall; thus, malnutrition should be considered in the prevention of falls among the elderly population.

Funcionalidade na doença de Alzheimer leve, moderada e grave: um estudo transversal / Functionality on mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease: a cros-sectional study

Objetivo: Avaliar a funcionalidade de pacientes com Doença de Alzheimer (DA) residentes na comunidade, no município de Guarapuava ­ PR, região Sul do Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, com pacientes com DA residentes na comunidade, no município de Guarapuava ­ PR. Os participantes foram classificados de acordo com a Escala Clínica de Demência em CDR 1 (DA leve), CDR 2 (DA moderada) e CDR 3 (DA severa). O estado mental foi avaliado através do Mini Exame do Estado Mental; as atividades básicas de vida diária (ABVD) através do Índice de Barthel e as atividades instrumentais de vida diária (AIVD) através do Índice de Lowton e Brody. Resultados: Foram avaliados 58 idosos com diagnóstico de DA, dos quais 14 (24,1%) estavam em CDR 1, 21 (36,2%) em CDR 2 e 23 (39,7%) em CDR 3. Houve diferença significativa entre os níveis de dependência para a realização das ABVD e AIVD entre todas as fases da DA (p <0,001), sendo que a dependência foi maior nos participantes estadeados em CDR 2 e CDR 3. Conclusão: O nível de dependência para a realização das atividades básicas e instrumentais de vida diária é maior nas fases mais avançadas da DA e a dependência para a realização das AIVD está presente em todas as fases da doença, sendo maior do que a dependência para a realização das ABVD desde a fase inicial da DA, sugerindo uma perda progressiva da funcionalidade

Objective: To evaluate the functionality of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) living in a community, in the city of Guarapuava PR, South of Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with patients with AD living in the community. Participants were classified according to Clinical Dementia Rating as CDR 1 (mild AD), CDR 2 (moderate AD) and CDR 3 (severe AD). The mental state was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination; the basic activities of daily living (ADLs) was determined by the Barthel Index and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) via by Lowton and Brody Index. Results: 49 elderly patients with AD diagnosis were evaluated, 14 (24.1%) of which were classified as CDR 1, 21 (36.2%) as CDR 2, and 23 (39.7%) as CDR 3. There was a significant difference between the levels of dependence for the performance of the basic ADLs and IADLs among all phases of AD (p <0.001). The dependence was higher in both CDR 2 and CDR 3. Conclusion: Functional dependence for basic activities of daily living becomes more frequent in the most advanced stages of AD, whereas dependence for IADLs is onset since early stages of AD, even more noticeable than dependence for basic ADLs, what suggests a progressive loss of functionality