ABSTRACT
Objectives: Dementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the human body and acts as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of coenzyme Q10 status, biomarkers for dementia (amyloid ß and tau protein), and antioxidant capacity in patients with dementia. Methods: Eighty dementia patients aged ≥60 years and with a mini mental state examination (MMSE) score ≤ 26 were enrolled. The levels of coenzyme Q10, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), amyloid ß, and tau protein were measured. Results: A total of 73% of patients had a low coenzyme Q10 status. Patients with low coenzyme Q10 status had a significantly higher level of serum amyloid ß-42 and amyloid ß-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05). Coenzyme Q10 status was significantly correlated with the values of TAC, MMSE score, amyloid ß-42, and amyloid ß-42/40 ratio (p < 0.05) but not with tau protein. Additionally, a high proportion of moderate dementia patients were found to have low coenzyme Q10 status (p = 0.07). Conclusion: Patients with dementia suffered from coenzyme Q10 deficiency, and the degree of deficiency was related to the level of amyloid-ß and antioxidant capacity. Since adequate level of coenzyme Q10 may delay the progression of dementia, monitoring coenzyme Q10 status in patients with dementia is necessary.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and examine the correlation with sarcopenia, frailty, depression, and quality of life. We enrolled patients aged 60 years and over with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≤ 26 (Taiwan), and dementia diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength and endurance were evaluated by handgrip, leg-back strength, dumbbell curls, sit to stand test, and gait speed. Quality of life, frailty, and depression status were measured by questionnaires. Patients with moderate dementia (MMSE ≤ 20) had a significantly lower MNA score, muscle function, and quality of life than patients with mild dementia (p < 0.01). A lower MNA score was significantly associated with the risk of frailty (odds ratio: 4.76, p < 0.01), depression (odds ratio: 3.17, p = 0.03), and poor quality of life (odds ratio: 2.73, p < 0.05), and sarcopenia (odds ratio: 3.97, p = 0.03) after adjusting for potential confounders. In conclusion, patients with dementia were at risk of malnutrition, and nutritional status was associated to the risk of sarcopenia, frailty, depression, and quality of life.
