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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia is a chronic or progressive clinical syndrome caused by a disease in the brain. It is associated with memory loss, personality change, and patient aggression, which is often caused by not recognizing their loved ones. The patient has a problem with expressing himself / herself, communicating with the surrounding world and loved ones. Often the disease is also accompanied by depression and depressed mood.
The material was created in cooperation with Nutramil Complex.
Another problem that the patient’s family has to face is meals. A large percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from malnutrition. The patient often forgets about meals, is distrustful of their caregivers and is reluctant to eat meals prepared by them. The problem may also be physical – you may have difficulty swallowing.
Epidemiology
The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age. Between the ages of 65-85, it doubles roughly every 5 years. What are the causes of the disease – it is not known exactly, it is suspected that it consists of many factors. The main factors include genetic conditions, the level of education, a lonely life or the lack of social contacts. It is estimated that in 2017, almost 50 million people worldwide suffered from dementia.
Eating disorders in Alzheimer’s disease
All types of dementia lead to weight loss. Along with the aging of the body, changes in taste and smell can often occur, which can aggravate the disease, as well as the medications taken. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease show changes in both taste and smell identification.
Diet in Alzheimer’s disease
Weight loss is most often associated with the loss of the patient’s independence. Eating behavior disorders are other factors that may be associated with weight loss. Eating disorders can vary, for example, fluctuating appetite, delusions about food, changes in eating habits, and eating problems due to dysphagia.
In addition, the patient may have problems chewing, swallowing or with simple activities such as maintaining cutlery. So this may have an impact on the amount of food you eat. If the patient has such problems – consider introducing meals in a semi-liquid or liquid form. You can serve cocktails, juices, cream soups.
The diet can be supplemented or replaced with food for special medical purposes, eg Nutramil Complex. These are wholesome products, consisting of a composition of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, micro and macro elements that will satisfy the patient’s daily requirements for these ingredients. Nutramil Complex can also be added to a traditional meal, enriching its energy value.
Meals should be given to the patient regularly, it is extremely important to keep the pores constant. This helps to control the number of meals consumed by the sick person. Often, medications prescribed by doctors should be taken with or after a meal – regular food intake will also help maintain regular medication.
How to make eating easier for a sick person
Something that is natural for a healthy person – for example, holding cutlery, using it, biting and swallowing – is a great challenge for a sick person. You should try to make the patient eat his own meals for as long as possible, even if he makes a mess or stains his clothes. In order to make it easier for the sick person to eat meals, it is worth applying a few rules:
- try to keep the meals small, but as appetizing as possible, so that the patient, even though he has no appetite, wants to eat them,
- if the patient has a problem with the use of cutlery – let him eat as he or she is comfortable – with a large spoon or fingers,
- if it is difficult for him to rise to a vertical position, replace ordinary cups or glasses – cups with the so-called “Spout”. This will help prevent choking,
- put a base under the plate to prevent the tableware from slipping,
- do not distract the sick person while eating,
- Serve the food chopped so that the patient can eat them without any problems,
- if you are serving fish or meat on the bone – try to remove all parts that may cause choking,
- serve the sick person’s favorite dishes.
Malnutrition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Less physical activity related to the lack of independence, mobility problems, depression, dysphagia – these are just some of the factors that may reduce the amount of meals taken and the patient’s appetite. However, every effort should be made to avoid malnutrition. This condition may adversely affect the patient – it impairs the immune functions of the body, the patient may lose strength, be more susceptible to infections.
The material was created in cooperation with Nutramil Complex.