IntroductionDementia is defined as a progressive decline in cognitive functions that interacts with activities of daily living, causing dependency while performing tasks such as bathing, eating, and ambulation. Reversible conditions such as hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, intracranial lesions, normal pressure hydrocephalus, subdural hematoma, and drugs can result in symptoms resembling dementia and resolve after appropriate medical or surgical therapy. However, the leading cause of dementia is Alzheimer disease and current medications can only slow its progression. Advanced age, female sex, low level of education, and genetic factors increase the risk of cognitive impairment. In addition, metabolic and vascular risk factors like smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity play roles in the development of dementia. As a result of more common vaccination programs and better sanitation, expected survival at birth has increased worldwide over the last 5 decades. Therefore, the aging population became a major problem of western countries due to its burden on health care services devoted to older patients. More and more patients with dementia are admitted to hospitals for complications like infections, pressure sores, and feeding problems. Malnutrition is important and should be prevented; otherwise, susceptibility to infection, development of pressure sores, and immobilization due to sarcopenia will ensue. Demented patients are prone to malnutrition owing to many different conditions such as edentulism, dysphagia, and financial and social restrictions. Their caregivers are also at risk of malnutrition (1). This review will focus on common nutritional problems of patients with dementia and their management.
Common problems 2.1. Oral healthEdentulism, poorly fitting dentures, and alterations in the sense of taste and smell of the foods by aging can lead to malnutrition by decreasing solid food intake (2). Thus, optimization of oral health is mandatory to maintain adequate nutrition. In addition, cognitive impairment itself can threaten oral health (3). Gil-Montoya et al. reported that the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), a 14-item questionnaire, was able to detect malnutrition presence and risk effectively in geriatric patients. Malnutrition/risk was 3.43-fold more prevalent in patients with OHIP-reported problems than in those who did not report any problems (4). Several studies reported an association between oral health and malnutrition. Furuta et al., in their study conducted among 286 dementia patients receiving home-care services, reported that cognitive impairment, denture wearing, and number of teeth affected nutritional status by interacting with swallowing function, leading to malnutrition and restriction in activities of daily living (5). Dion et al. indicated the importance of regular dental examination in order to prevent malnutrition in a study performed among 1094 geriatric institutionalized patients (6).
DysphagiaDysphagia, defined as difficulty in swallowing, is a late clinica...