Nutrition and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease begins with cognitive deficiencies that gradually becom e worse with the extension of cerebral lesions. Other troubles arise such a s loss of independence, orientation impairments, disordered eating behavior , and weight loss. This weight loss increases the risk of infections, skin ulcers, and falls and consequently decreases quality of life in Alzheimer's patients. Various hypotheses (increased energy expenditure, mesial tempora l cortex atrophy) were suggested to explain weight loss. We set up a Health Promotion Program that aims to prevent weight loss in patients with Alzhei mer's disease. This program uses various tools (nutrition calendar, Mini Nu tritional Assessment, nutrition education sessions) described in this artic le.