A pilot study of associated factors of weight changes in community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's disease

The objective of this investigation was to identify associated factors for weight changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The prospective study was conducted on 20 early AD, 25 late AD psychogeriatric outpatients all over 60 years of age with family caregiver(s), and 36 normal older people as control subjects. Body anthropometry was assessed in subjects including bioelectric impedance analysis and indirect calorimetry. Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) was estimated by questionnaire. Three-day food records and neuropsychiatric inventory were recorded. Fasting blood was analyzed for plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF). All subjects were weighed again 6 months later. In this study the AD subjects were thinner, less physically active, but had greater caloric and protein intakes than the control subjects. The percentage weight change in the AD subjects correlated inversely with TDEE, body mass index, and plasma TNF concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient ‒0.40, ‒0.43, Spearman correlation coefficient ‒0.31, respectively). In conclusion, physically active AD subjects are at risk of weight loss and plasma TNF may play a role in this condition.