Weight loss and undernutrition in community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's dementia: From population based studies to clinical management.

Weight loss and undernutrition are commonly described in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have been associated with various adverse outcomes. Therefore, it is important to know what the best approach is to community-dwelling AD patients with a risk of developing a poor nutritional status; however, there is currently no evidence on which to base nutritional recommendations. Expert based recommendations are that the nutritional status should be part of the work-up of all AD patients.

The relationship of weight change trajectory with medial temporal lobe atrophy in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: results from a cohort study.

Introduction: Weight loss has been described in 20% to 45% of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has been associated with adverse outcomes. Various mechanisms for weight loss in AD patients have been proposed, though none has been proven. This study aimed to elucidate a mechanism of weight loss in AD patients by examining the hypothesis that weight loss is associated with medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA).

Initial cognitive response to cholinesterase inhibitors and subsequent long-term course in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Some guidelines recommend to discontinue treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) without an initial response to ChEI treatment. Evidence supporting this recommendation, however, is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relation between the initial cognitive response to ChEI treatment and the subsequent long-term course of cognition of AD patients.

Long-term Course of Alzheimer Disease in Patients Treated According to the Dutch Dementia Guideline at a Memory Clinic: A "Real-Life" Study.

Introduction: There is little knowledge of the long-term course of Alzheimer disease (AD) in light of current pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions provided in a "real-life" setting.

Methods: The Frisian Alzheimer's Disease Cohort study is a "real-life" study of the course of AD in patients (n=576) treated with pharmacological (ie, cholinesterase inhibitors) and nonpharmacological (ie, case management, respite care) interventions. Disease course was described by changes in cognition (Mini Mental State Examination, clock-drawing test) and number of types of professional care applying a repeated-measures analysis using a marginal model (population-based average model).

The nutritional status of Dutch elderly patients with Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of (risk of) undernutrition in Dutch elder Parkinson's disease patients as well as it's risk factors.

Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Setting: An outpatient clinic at the department Neurology of Medical Centre Leeuwarden, a large teaching hospital.