MDLinxNutrition and Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Linked, Study Finds

Nutritional Deficiencies and Alzheimer’s: Unveiling the Bidirectional Link

A recent study published in Frontiers in Nutrition explores the complex relationship between nutritional status and Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting a bidirectional link where malnutrition may both increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and worsen due to the disease’s progression.

Key Points:

• The study involved 266 participants, categorized into three groups: cognitively healthy, those with mild cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer’s, and those suffering from dementia.
• Nutritional status was assessed based on adherence to the Mediterranean and MIND diets, known for their benefits on heart health and potential cognitive function.
• No significant differences in diet adherence scores were found across the groups, suggesting that diet alone, as measured, may not directly correlate with Alzheimer’s risk.
• Patients with Alzheimer’s displayed lower BMI, protein, albumin, globulin, calcium, folic acid, and apolipoprotein A1 levels, along with reduced calf and hip circumferences.
• The study identified malnutrition as a factor that could potentially accelerate Alzheimer’s progression and vice versa, indicating a vicious cycle between disease progression and nutritional deterioration.
• Early-stage Alzheimer’s may be linked to malnutrition due to factors affecting food intake, like taste and olfactory dysfunction, and compromised appetite.
• In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, an intensified chronic inflammatory response may lead to increased protein and energy consumption, exacerbating malnutrition.
• The intricate relationship between Alzheimer’s progression and nutritional status underscores the importance of comprehensive care approaches that address dietary needs.

According to BMC Medicine, higher adherence to a Mediterranean Diet was associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic risk.

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