The Effects Of Alzheimers Disease On Nutritional Status
According to the Alzheimers Association facts and figures, 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimers disease. By the year 2050, this number is projected to increase to nearly 14 million individuals. Alzheimers is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Proper nutrition is important to help keep the body strong and healthy. In all healthcare settings, the care of older adults must meet two goals: health maintenance and quality of life. Foods must meet health and nutritional needs but should also enhance quality of life.
Individualizing diets, providing the least restrictive diet, and allowing the person to have choice in food selection can increase the desire to eat. The goal of the caretaker or healthcare facility should be to maintain proper nutrition and hydration. This may slow down or delay the progression of the disease and improve quality of life.
Alzheimers Association website www.alz.org
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Individualized Nutrition Approaches for Older Adults: Long-term Care, Post-Acute Care, and Other Settings, April 2018, Volume 118, Number 4
National Institute on Aging website www.nia.nih.gov
Recommendations For The Future
As future recommendations, we see interesting the implementation of diets that are adapted to AD. In these diets it would be remarkable if there were foods such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, nuts and dairy products with low fat content and a low percentage of candy, fried potatoes, processed meat, high saturated fat and butter.
We believe it would be interesting to look for a relationship between the proven increase in the prevalence of AD due to dietary changes with the appearance or increase in prion-like forms of beta-amyloids. This area is one that needs to be investigated further because there remain many unanswered questions and it could bring to bear significant findings that would contribute to our knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of this disease.
Another recommendation is to undertake a more in-depth evaluation of the therapeutic benefits to AD of controlled microbiota modification, either through fecal transplants, antibiotics, pro- and pre-biotic supplements, or diets specially designed with this pathology in mind.
Eating In The Later Stages Of Dementia
It is common for people in the later stages of dementia to lose a considerable amount of weight. People may forget how to eat or drink, or may not recognise the food they are given. Some people become unable to swallow properly.
Providing nutrition supplements may need to be considered. If a person has swallowing difficulties, or is not consuming food or drink over a significant period of time and their health is affected, nutrition supplements may be considered for consumption other than by mouth.
This information is based on Finger Foods for Independence: For people with Alzheimers disease and other eating difficulties, by Lois Newton and Dr Alan Stewart, and Reduce the risk: A common sense guide to preventing poor nutrition in older people, by Carolyn Bunney and Rudi Bartl.
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Foods That Are Risk Factors For Alzheimers
Many foods in the Western diet have been identified as risk factors for dementia and Alzheimers, including red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, and desserts. Excess alcohol intake, saturated fatty acids, and foods with a high number of calories are also risk factors for Alzheimers. If you think that you or a loved one may be at risk for Alzheimers, work with your doctor on developing a healthier diet and nutrition plan that greatly reduces the risk.
Healthcare Associates of Texas offer memory loss treatments that may help improve or reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease. Request an appointment today to begin the treatment process and benefit from improved overall brain health.
References:
Dietary Patterns Alzheimer’s Disease And Late
A growing body of evidence suggested that particular diets have been linked to a lower incidence of AD and late-life cognitive disorders . In fact, dietary-related factors, affecting cardiovascular risk, may also influence dementia risk . In particular, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, originally developed as a plant-focused dietary plan against hypertension, considers high consumption of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, nuts, legumes, poultry, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, and lower intake of sodium, red meat, saturated fats, and sweets. In a randomized clinical trial , higher levels of accordance with the DASH diet conferred greater cognitive improvements in comparison to control subjects . Higher adherence to the DASH diet demonstrated also to lower the risk of incident dementia over 6 years of follow-up in a population-based study . In an 11-years follow-up, higher adherence to both the DASH diet and a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern in older age was associated with a significant reduction in rates of global cognitive decline in the same population-based setting .
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Watch For Weight Loss
People with Alzheimerâs may feel less hungry or thirsty, have problems chewing or swallowing, have trouble using utensils or feeding themselves, or make bad food choices. This raises the chance that they wonât eat enough and will lose too much weight.
To help your loved one keep up their weight and get the right nutrients:
- Offer smaller meals or snacks more often. Eating five or six times a day may be easier than getting the same amount of food in three meals.
- Give them a daily multivitamin.
- Help them focus on the more nutritious, higher-calorie foods in the meal first.
- Prepare things that are easy to eat. Good options are bite-sized finger foods, like chicken nuggets, tuna sandwiches, orange slices, and steamed broccoli.
- Make meals enjoyable. If lunch or dinner is a social event, they may look forward to it and eat better.
- Trouble chewing or swallowing could be a choking risk, so talk to their doctor if they have a hard time. The doctor can recommend a special diet or foods that are easier to eat.
- Use utensils or dishes that are easier to handle. A spoon and bowl may be better than aforkand plate.
- Exercise can boost appetite. Encourage your loved one to take walks, garden, or do simple chores to stay active.
- Not feeling hungry and weight changes can also be signs of depression. Talk to their doctor if you think this might be a problem.
Show Sources
Alzheimer’s Disease Education & Referral Center: “Caregiver Guide.”
Foods That May Decrease The Risk Of Alzheimers
Next, we know that a healthier diet can protect cognitive functioning while also improving other aspects of health. Most of the research on diet and Alzheimers has focused on the Mediterranean diet , an eating pattern that emphasizes healthy fats such as olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, and less dairy food, red meat, butter or margarine, sweetened beverages, and pastries. Moderate wine consumption is included in some, but not all, European and Middle Eastern populations who have adopted the MD.
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Alzheimers Vs Dementia: Whats The Difference
Both Alzheimers disease and dementia involve cognitive decline, but not all dementia patients have Alzheimers. Dementia is one of the main symptoms of Alzheimers, and Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia.
Alzheimers disease is caused by misshapen protein structures in the brain . Over time, the malformations kill the brain cells theyre in, limiting cognitive function.
Because Alzheimers is defined by these microscopic changes in the brain, doctors cant say for certain whether a person has Alzheimers without performing an autopsy.
The early symptoms of Alzheimers disease include:
- Difficulty finding the right words when speaking or writing
- Getting lost easily
When a patient starts to develop noticeable symptoms, Alzheimers medications may help. However, making diet and lifestyle changes seems to be just as effective, if not more so.
Cognitive Impairment Versus Cognitive Decline
Lets take a moment to unpack these terms. Lets say you want to know what your risk is 10 years from now.
- Cognition is a shorthand way of saying thinking, memory, language, attention, visuospatial, and other mental abilities.
- Your risk of cognitive impairment is the risk that 10 years from now, your cognition will be worse than your peers.
- Your risk of cognitive is the risk that 10 years from now, your cognition will be worse than it is now.
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Old News: The Mediterranean Diet Is Beneficial
One factor that a number of studies have converged on is a Mediterranean-style diet. This diet includes
- red wine in moderation.
Now, if youre like me and you happen to like all these foods, then you have all the information you need to eat a brain-healthy diet. On the other hand, if youre not crazy about everything on the list, perhaps you would rather eat just the most important components. Researchers have, in fact, been trying to determine the key parts of this diet for a number of years.
For example, one study and compared healthy older adults who followed a Mediterranean diet with extra olive oil or extra nuts versus a control reduced-fat diet. The enhanced Mediterranean diet groups fared equally well, and both had better cognitive performance outcomes than the reduced-fat diet group. No study, however, has been able to determine the critical components of the Mediterranean diet that makes it so good for your brain until now.
Why Nutrition Is Important For People With Dementia
Good nutrition is vital for the health, independence and wellbeing of people with dementia. However, maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge for many people with dementia. Difficulties eating and drinking are more noticeable as dementia progresses and unwanted weight loss is a common problem.
We all have likes and dislikes and eating habits that are particular to us as individuals.
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What Do We Know About Individual Foods
Many foods blueberries, leafy greens, and curcumin , to name a few have been studied for their potential cognitive benefit. These foods were thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or other properties that might help protect the brain. So far, there is no evidence that eating or avoiding a specific food can prevent Alzheimers disease or age-related cognitive decline.
But scientists continue to look for clues. One study, based on older adults reports of their eating habits, found that eating a daily serving of leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale was associated with slower age-related cognitive decline, perhaps due to the neuroprotective effects of certain nutrients. Research has also shown that eating a diet that includes regular fish consumption is associated with higher cognitive function and slower cognitive decline with age. Another recent study, in mice, found that consuming a lot of salt increased levels of the protein tau, found in the brains of people with Alzheimers, and caused cognitive impairment.
Consider Primehealths Prevention Program
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As more research is published on the KetoFLEX 12/3 diet, we cant wait for more professionals and caregivers to hear about this super effective diet plan.
How can you reverse dementia naturally? You can reverse dementia naturally with simple lifestyle and dietary changes. This mainly works in the very early stages of dementia and cognitive decline.
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A Look At The Evidence
Studies that observed changes in thinking of people who ate the Mediterranean or MIND diet suggest it might help the brain. For example:
- In one observational study of 116 cognitively normal adults, those who followed a Mediterranean diet had thicker cortical brain regions than those who did not. These brain regions shrink in people with Alzheimers, so having thicker regions could mean cognitive benefit.
- A follow-up observational study showed lower glucose metabolism and higher levels of beta-amyloid protein both seen in Alzheimers in people who did not follow the Mediterranean diet closely, compared to those who did.
- An analysis of diet and other factors found that, after an average of 4.5 years, people who adhered most closely to the MIND diet had a 53% reduced rate of Alzheimers disease compared to those who did not follow the diet closely.
- In a similar study, following the MIND diet was associated with a substantial slowing of cognitive decline during an average of almost 5 years.
- The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies originally looked at diet and eye disease. Further analysis by the researchers showed that people who followed the Mediterranean-style diet had a lower risk of developing cognitive problems while maintaining a higher level of cognitive function.
Practical Tips To Help Someone With Dementia To Eat More
People living with Alzheimers or dementia often eat less than they used to. This can be due to medical problems associated with chewing, swallowing or digesting food.
Sometimes people just lose interest in food. This can happen for a long list of reasons including loss of taste, the ability to smell, memory loss, and thinking they have already eaten. Certain medications can also affect appetite.
The ability and want to eat tends to get worse as the disease progresses and ensuring someone living with dementia eats a nutritious meal, or eats enough, can become a real practical and emotional issue for the carer. We have compiled a list here of 8 practical tips for helping someone with dementia to eat more.
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Ingredients Of The Mind Diet
The MIND diet focuses on plant-based foods linked to dementia prevention. It encourages eating from 10 healthy food groups:
- Leafy green vegetables, at least 6 servings/week
- Other vegetables, at least 1 serving/day
- Berries, at least 2 servings/week
- Whole grains, at least 3 servings/day
- Fish, 1 serving/week
The MIND diet limits servings of red meat, sweets, cheese, butter/margarine and fast/fried food.
*Be careful about how much alcohol you drink. How the body handles alcohol can change with age. Learn more about alcohol and older adults.
Some, but not all, observational studies those in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured, without treatment have shown that the Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk for dementia. These studies compared cognitively normal people who ate a Mediterranean diet with those who ate a Western-style diet, which contains more red meat, saturated fats and sugar.
Evidence supporting the MIND diet comes from observational studies of more than 900 dementia-free older adults, which found that closely following the MIND diet was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimers disease and a slower rate of cognitive decline.
Foods That Can Fight Dementia And Alzheimers Disease
Dementia and Alzheimers disease are thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors including diet and nutrition. Health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity may also contribute to cognitive decline, and are often affected by the foods you eat. Practicing good nutrition and eating lots of healthy foods is shown to help reduce your risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease as you become older.
Here are 7 foods that can fight off cognitive decline and help you stay healthy as you age:
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Keep Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels In Check
Your heart beats roughly 115,000 times a day, and with every beat, it sends about 20% of the oxygen in your body to your brain.
High blood pressure can weaken your heart muscle, and is one of the leading causes of strokes. Ideally, your blood pressure should be no higher than 120/80.
Cholesterol is critical to your brain and nervous system health, too. The American Heart Association recommends getting your cholesterol levels measured every four to six years.
The Plate Colour Matters
In a study conducted at Boston University, researchers found that patients eating from red plates consumed 25 percent more food than those eating from white plates. This appears to be connected with the way someone living with dementia sees food on a plate. If you cant really see food because its on a white background you are much less likely to eat it.
The use of colour helps to stimulate interest in dementia patents, as often they have trouble distinguishing between colour. If the food is too close to the colour palette of the plate, people with dementia can struggle to distinguish the contrast between the two and realise there is food to be eaten.
A company called Eatwell Tableware have a fantastic selection of innovative tablewear designed for those with dementia or motor impairment.
Sentai – Meal reminders and much more
Using smart technology, Sentai can take care of daily reminders like gently telling someone with dementia that its time to eat. Sentai can help them to retain their independence by giving you piece of mind with live updates and insights as to their wellbeing, without being intrusive. If something doesnt seem right, or they press and emergency button, Sentai will immediately let you know.
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Mediterranean Diet And Dementia Mediterranean Diet And Dementia
Evidence shows that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and cereals, and low in red meat and sugar could help reduce dementia risks.
The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is to adapt various aspects of your lifestyle, including eating certain foods, taking regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
There is some evidence that eating a Mediterranean-style diet can reduce the risk of developing problems with memory and thinking, and getting some forms of dementia.
Mediterranean diets are traditionally high in fruits, vegetables, legumes and cereals, with moderate consumption of oily fish and dairy, and low in meat, sugar and saturated fat. Most fat in this type of diet comes from olive oil, and alcohol is consumed in moderation with meals. Research in the 1960s showed that men from Mediterranean regions who adhered to traditional diets had lower rates of heart attacks. This prompted continual investigation into the potential health benefits of the diet.
Investigations have shown that this kind of diet is associated with lower levels of stroke, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and death from any cause. They have also shown that sticking to the diet more strictly might be associated with slower rates of decline in memory and thinking.
Reduce your risk of dementiaReduce your risk of dementia .