Nutrition and dementia: clinical considerations for identification and intervention

Abstract

SUMMARY Nutrition is linked in several ways to the diseases that cause dementia. The focus of this article is on nutrient-specific interventions, a healthy diet and management of bodyweight to delay dementia progression in individuals with mild-cognitive impairment or dementia, specifically living in the community. Epidemiological evidence suggests that a healthy plant-based diet is prudent. However, research is lacking on specific nutrient supplementation and pharmacological doses are unwarranted. Weight loss is common and potentially leads to further cognitive loss and needs to be avoided in patients presenting for diagnosis or being followed for dementia care. Nutrition screening and assessment as a means of identifying potential nutrition problems in an outpatient clinical environment are reviewed as well as interventions.