The relationship between malnutrition risk and depression with episodic memory and executive functions in patients with mild to moderate dementia

Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder that increases with age and leads to a decline in an individual's cognitive, behavioral, and functional capacities. This study aims to examine the effects of malnutrition risk and depression levels on episodic memory and executive functions in individuals diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. Malnutrition is a significant risk factor in dementia patients, accelerating both cognitive and physical decline; inadequate nutrition can lead to more rapid disease progression. Depression is also commonly observed in individuals with dementia and may negatively affect episodic memory (the recall of personal past experiences) and executive functions (planning, problem-solving, attention, and cognitive flexibility). Studies have shown that patients at risk of malnutrition and with prominent depressive symptoms tend to have lower cognitive functioning. In this context, regular nutritional assessment and depression screening in dementia patients play a crucial role in preserving cognitive functions. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering these two factors in both clinical monitoring and care processes. In this study, the effects of depression and malnutrition levels on different dimensions of forgetfulness (time, place, registration, attention, recall, language) were examined using multiple linear regression analyses. Prior to the analysis, assumption tests were conducted to ensure that all assumptions were met. These included the normality assumption, the absence of non-linear relationships between independent and dependent variables, the absence of multicollinearity, and the absence of autocorrelation in the data. One of the most fundamental findings was a significant and strong relationship between the level of forgetfulness and forgetfulness. Negative effects were seen, particularly in the attention and time dimensions. This suggests that forgetfulness levels have a direct impact on strategic performance in older individuals.