Nutrition Testing
Nutrition Testing for Dementia Patients
The link between all types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and nutrition has been well established over the past several decades with high quality research in numerous health and medical journals. It is clear that with close attention and a planned approach, the development of dementia can be significantly postponed or even prevented.
There are several risk factors that have long been known to be harmful to overall health – such as obesity, smoking, hypertension, and physical inactivity. All of these are also known to increase the risk of developing dementia. Since many of these factors are interrelated, addressing even one of these will be beneficial for helping an individual who is at risk of dementia. When performing an assessment for nutrition and strategies for someone already suffering from dementia, medical professionals and nutritionists can devise a suitable diet for dementia patients which plays a positive role in improving the health of the person with dementia substantially.
In other cases, assessment of nutritional deficiencies in someone already at some risk of dementia due to genetic factors or other risk factors can help adapt lifestyle changes that prevents dementia altogether!
The Purpose of Nutrition Tests in Dementia Patients
People who suffer from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other types of dementia suffer from various symptoms and day-to-day cognitive changes. A major impact of dementia is on the diet and quality of nutritional intake. People with dementia often forget to eat their meals, reduce their water intake and some may not even feel the urge to eat or drink throughout the day unless prompted.
Furthermore, it is commonly recognized that both overt and subclinical malnutrition have a significant impact on quality of life and are powerful predictors of illness and mortality in elderly adults, especially those suffering from dementia.
An analysis of body composition through nutritional testing can help identify the state of nutrition and discover the deficiencies in a person already suffering from dementia. Moreover, a nutrition blood test looking at the levels of various vitamins and minerals in one’s body may be helpful in identifying deficiencies. We know that focusing on nutrition can help prevent dementia. Secondly, a nutrition test for those who already have dementia can alter the course of treatments with various nutritional food supplements (aka “dementia food supplements”) along with meals.
A blood test allows the analysis of biochemical nutritional markers in the blood. This way patients can be given specific doses of vitamins and food supplements to make up for nutritional deficiencies and improve their overall cognitive function.
The Role of Nutrition-Related Blood Tests for People with Dementia
There is a bi-directional relationship between dementia and nutrition. It is well-established that poor nutrition will increase the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s (the most common type of dementia). It is also well known that those with cognitive impairment, including dementia, often have a reduced capacity to have optimal nutrition and can often end up nutrient-deficient or malnourished as their condition may progress over time.
There are several studies that demonstrate a clear connection between lack of nutrition and numerous other risk factors of dementia. This includes poor bone health which can manifest with chewing difficulty, poor oral hygiene, depression, reduced cardiovascular health, and many other chronic conditions that are more common in those who are malnourished.
Given that there is a clear connection between deficiency in several nutrients and cognitive impairment, having this assessed through blood tests or other investigations can be very helpful. The results can often influence which types of vitamins or nutrients one’s clinician may recommend to help delay further cognitive decline.
Blood Tests for Nutrition: A Proactive Approach to Dealing with Dementia
The incidence of cognitive impairment increases with age. The scientific literature is clear that sufficient levels of several vitamins and minerals in the blood can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Most of the levels that need to be assessed can be done with routine bloodwork that your primary care provider or family physician can arrange. Specifically we ensure that electrolyte levels in the body are balanced as well as several vitamins, particularly the B-family of vitamins.
Our Deter Dementia program outlines which specific vitamins and minerals need to be tested for and how supplementation can assist you in maintaining optimal brain health moving forward.
Many people can have modifications to their diet that will help enrich their bodies with the nutrients and minerals that may be lacking. You may also need to take a supplement if you are deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral. Given that we know that such deficiencies can lead to gradual cognitive decline and impact optimal brain and nerve function, using the right supplements or overall diet changes can slow down the progress, and in some cases completely prevent, the risk of certain types of dementia.
Is There a Dementia Diet Plan?
- It is advised that organizations providing care for those with dementia hire enough qualified people and provide nutritious meals and drinks with options in a practical and appealing setting as a precondition for providing appropriate nutritional care.
- A documented care concept and established operational procedures should form the foundation of nutritional care.
- Individualized nutritional assessments and routine screenings for malnutrition and dehydration can assist in ensuring that patients receive the necessary vitamins for dementia treatment and minimize the negative effects of other potentially harmful drugs.
- By removing probable causes of malnutrition and dehydration, oral nutrition may be promoted with the right supervision and counselling
- Training on the value of well-balanced meals can be provided to family members, friends, or nursing staff who are caring for a person with dementia.
