Evaluation of the relationship between nutritionalstatus of alzheimer's patientsand physical and cognitive functions

The aim of this study is to determine the nutritional status of Alzheimer's patients (AD) and to determine factors related to nutrition and sarcopenia, depression, frailty and cognitive functions. The research was conducted with 62 individuals (31 men, 31 women) who were registered to the Moral Evi of Gaziantep and agreed to participate in the study. With the questionnaire, individuals; information on socio-demographic and health status, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to evaluate nutritional status, 24-hour food consumption, anthropometric measurements, Mini Mental Assessment Test (MMDT) to evaluate psychosocial and cognitive status, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, For biophysical evaluation, Edmonton Frail Scale and Sarcopenia Rapid Screening Test (SARC-F) were applied. The average age of the patients was found to be 75.3±6.1, and 83.9% were 70 years or older. According to their body mass index, 74.2% are above their normal weight and malnutrition has not been detected, but according to MNA, 56.5% are at risk of malnutrition and 3.2% are malnourished. While there was a moderate positive correlation between MNA score and energy and protein intake (r=.309; p=.015), (r=.388; p=.002); a moderate negative correlation was found with the Edmonton frailty score (r=-.361; p=.004). A low negative correlation was found between Body Mass Index (BMI) and energy intake (r=-.299; p=.018). Energy intake and MNA score were positively moderate (r=.309; p=.015); A low positive relationship was found with protein intake (r=.704; p=.000), a low negative relationship with body mass index (r=-.299; p=.018), and a moderate positive relationship with SARC-F. (r=.323; p=.011). There is a moderate positive relationship between protein intake and MNA score (r=.388; p=.002), and a moderate positive relationship with energy intake (r=.704; p=.000). A moderate negative relationship was found between hand grip strength and Edmonton frailty score (r=-.307; p=.015) and SARC-F score (r=-.415; p=.001). There was a negative correlation between Edmonton frailty score and MNA score (r=-.361; p=.004), a negative correlation with hand grip strength (r=-.307; p=.015), a negative correlation with SARC-F (r=- .415; p=.001), a moderate positive relationship was found with depression score (r=.304; p=.016). With SARC-F score, energy intake is negatively low (r=-.266; p=.027), hand grip strength is negatively (r=-.415; p=.001), and Edmonton frailty score is positive (r= .634; p=.000), anxiety and depression scores had a moderate positive correlation (r=.303; p=.017), (r=.263; p=.039). A moderate positive correlation was found between anxiety score and SARC-F, depression mini mental state test (r=.303; p=.017), (r=.620; p=.000), (r=.320; p=.011). A moderate positive correlation was found between depression score and Edmonton frailty score (r=.304; p=.016) and anxiety (r=.620; p=.000), and a low negative correlation was found with SARC-F (r=.263). ; p=.039). Mini mental assessment test had a moderate positive correlation with anxiety (r=.320; p=.011). When looking at the relationships with nutritional status in this study, malnutrition; energy and protein intake were associated with sarcopenia and BMI. Sarcopenia has been found to be associated with energy, cognition, fragility, anxiety and depression. In evaluating the nutritional status of Alzheimer's patients, it is important to perform biophysical tests and screening tests in addition to anthropometric measurements. In addition to malnutrition, evaluation of nutritional intake is recommended in the presence of sarcopenia.