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Cited by 95Nutrition and Health in AgingGeriatric Care and Nursing HomesDementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Relationship between cognitive impairment and nutritional assessment on functional status in Calabrian long-term-care

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Sgrò, Giovanni, Caruso, Chiara, Ceravolo, Francesco, Curinga, Giuseppe, Renda, Grazia Francesca, Rispoli, Vincenzo, Spadea, Fausto, Malara, Alba +1 more·2014·Clinical Interventions in Aging
DOI 10.2147/cia.s54611PMC PMC3892960
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The interaction between dementia and nutritional state is very complex and not yet fully understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the interaction between cognitive impairment and nutritional state in a cohort of residential elderly in relationship with functional condition of patients and their load of assistance in long-term-care facilities of the National Association of Third Age Structures (ANASTE) Calabria. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four subjects (122 female and 52 male) were admitted to the long-term-care ANASTE Calabria study. All patients underwent multidimensional geriatric assessment. Nutritional state was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), whereas cognitive performance was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The functional state was assessed by Barthel Index (BI) and Activity Daily Living (ADL). The following nutritional biochemical parameters were also evaluated: albumin, cholesterol, iron, and hemoglobin. All patients were reassessed 180 days later. RESULTS: A severe cognitive impairment in MMSE performance was displayed in 49.7% patients, while 39.8% showed a moderate deficit; 6.9% had a slight deficit; and 3.4% evidenced no cognitive impairment. In MNA, 30% of patients exhibited an impairment of nutritional state; 56% were at risk of malnutrition; and 14% showed no nutritional problems. Malnutrition was present in 42% of patients with severe cognitive impairment, but only 4% of malnourished patients showed moderate cognitive deficit. The statistical analysis displayed a significant correlation between MNA and MMSE (P<0.001), as did MMSE correlated with Activity Daily Living (P<0.001) and BI (P<0.05). MNA correlated with BI (P<0.001) and albumin (P<0.001). The follow-up showed a strong correlation between cognitive deterioration and worsening of nutritional state (P<0.005) as well as with the functional state (P<0.05) and mortality (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study clearly shows that malnutrition may play an important role in the progression of cognitive loss.

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  • Malnutrition is associated with decreases in activities of daily living, grip strength, physical performance of lower limbs, cognition, and quality of life.

    “Malnutrition is also associated with decreases in activities of daily living, grip strength, physical performance of lower limbs, cognition, and quality of life (81-83).”

    From 13. Older Adults: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025 (2025) · cites this paper as [82]

    The Discussion (page not provided) links malnutrition with greater ADL impairment, and the Results (page not provided) report an association between nutritional status and cognitive performance. The Introduction (page not provided) says malnutrition can reduce health-related quality of life. Our copy does not establish the claimed associations with grip strength or lower-limb physical performance. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Malnutrition is associated with decreases in activities of daily living, grip strength, physical performance of lower limbs, cognition, and quality of life.

    “Malnutrition is also associated with decreases in activities of daily living, grip strength, physical performance of lower limbs, cognition, and quality of life”

    From 13. Older Adults: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 (2026) · cites this paper as [93]

    The Results report an association between nutritional status and cognition, the Discussion links malnutrition with greater ADL impairment, and the Introduction describes reduced quality of life. The paper does not report grip strength or lower-limb physical performance, so those parts of the claim are unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Sgrò, G., Caruso, C., Ceravolo, F., Curinga, G., Renda, G. F., Rispoli, V., Spadea, F., Malara, A., & Garo, M.
Corresponding author
Malara, Alba
ORCID
Malara, Alba
Venue
Clinical Interventions in Aging
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2014-01
Volume
9
Pages
105
ISSN
  • 1176-9092 (ISSN-L)
  • 1178-1998
DOI
10.2147/cia.s54611
PMC
PMC3892960
OpenAlex
W2171255455
Cited by
95
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3
FWCI
4.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Interventions in Aging (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Keywords
cognitive impairment, malnutrition, nutritional status, functional status, long-term care, older adults, dementia, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Mini-Mental State Examination, Barthel Index, activities of daily living, albumin, mortality, Calabria
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Italy, Long-Term Care, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Nutritional Status, Nutrition Assessment, Prevalence, Malnutrition, Cognitive Dysfunction

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