Evaluation of nutritional status, MIND score compliance and its relationship with cognitive functions of alzheimer's patients

ABSTRACT KIRANATLI, S. Evaluation of the Nutritional Status of Alzheimer's Patients and the Relationship Between Their MIND Diet Score Compliance and Mental States, Nuh Naci Yazgan University Institute of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Master's Thesis, Kayseri, 2025. The study was conducted with the voluntary participation of 97 individuals aged 60 and over, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), who applied to the Neurology Department of Kayseri City Hospital between April 1, 2024, and June 31, 2024. Participants were administered a food frequency questionnaire, the MIND diet adherence score to assess compliance with the MIND diet, and the MMSE questionnaire to evaluate their cognitive status, all through face-to-face interviews. The demographic characteristics of the participants, MIND diet adherence scores, and MMSE scores were determined. 57.7% of the participants were women. The average Body Mass Index (BMI) was found to be 29.45±5.61 kg/m². 38.1% of the participants were obese. The MMSE score was significantly higher in the group with a diagnosis duration of <1 year (18.0 (12.5-21.0)) compared to the group with a diagnosis duration of >1 year (12.5 (9.3-16.8)) (p=0.007). Participants were categorized based on their MMSE scores. The average body weight of participants in the T3 group (81.18±16.65) was higher than that of participants in the T1 group (70.28±12.30) and the T2 group (70.19±12.07) (p=0.003). The proportion of men in the T3 group (62.5%) was higher than in the T1 group (12.5%) and the T2 group (46.9%) (p=0.001). The proportion of women in the T1 group (87.5%) was higher compared to the T2 group (53.1%) and the T3 group (37.5%) (p=0.001). A weak negative statistically significant relationship was found between MMSE score and diagnosis duration (p<0.05). A weak positive statistically significant relationship was found between the MMSE score and body weight (p<0.05). When the MIND diet adherence score was adjusted for gender and age, a statistically significant relationship was observed between the MIND diet adherence score and MMSE score (p=0.05). According to the adjusted model, a statistically significant negative relationship was found between the MIND diet adherence score and BMI (p=0.003). Key Words: Alzheimer Disease, MIND diet adherence score, MMSE, BMI.