APPENDICULAR SKELETAL-MUSCLE MASS, PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, AND COGNITIVE STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Objective: To examine the interrelations among appendicular skeletal m uscle mass and physical activity, energy intake, and cognitive status in free-living patients with AD. Background: Increasing disease severi ty in AD patients may contribute to poor nutritional status and loss o f skeletal muscle mass. This may lead to impaired physical function an d loss of functional independence. Methods: Participants in our study were 30 noninstitutionalized AD patients (74 +/- 8 years) and 30 healt hy age- and body mass index-matched control subjects (73 +/- 7 years). We measured appendicular skeletal muscle mass by dual-energy X-ray ab sorptiometry, energy expenditure by doubly labeled water, and energy i ntake by food diaries. Results: As expected, the AD group had lower Mi ni-Mental State Examination scores than the control subjects (p < 0.05 ). No differences in energy intake or energy expenditure and its compo nents were noted between the groups. Higher levels of appendicular mus cle mass in AD patients were associated with increased energy expendit ure of physical activity (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) and daily energy intake (r = 0.49, p = 0.01). Cognitive status was not related to appendicular muscle mass, daily energy intake, or energy expenditure of physical a ctivity in AD patients. Conclusions: Higher levels of physical activit y and energy intake are associated with higher appendicular skeletal m uscle mass in AD patients. Nutritional and physical activity intervent ions may represent practical and inexpensive strategies in their thera peutic management.