PD1003 - NUTRITIONAL RISK AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION ACROSS STAGES OF COGNITIVE DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

PD1003

NUTRITIONAL RISK AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION ACROSS STAGES OF COGNITIVE DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

V. Simič^1,2,*, P. Rus Prelog^1,3, N. Mohorko²

¹Centre for Clinical Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Clinic, Ljubljana, ²Faculty of Health Science, University of Primorska, Izola, ³Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Rationale: Cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is linked to worsening nutritional and functional status. However, data on nutritional risk, handgrip strength, and gait speed across AD stages, particularly in severe cases, remain limited.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 194 hospitalized older adults with AD, categorized by Mini-Mental State Examination into mild (n=75), moderate (n=77), and severe (n=42) cognitive impairment. Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), clinical, and physical function parameters were compared using ANOVA and ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex. Multivariable linear regression identified factors associated with cognitive status.

Results: Physical function decline was evident with worsening cognition. Gait speed decreased significantly across groups (0.7±0.4 vs. 0.6±0.3 vs. 0.5±0.3 m/s; p=0.027; ANCOVA p=0.034). Mean handgrip strength did not differ significantly, but low handgrip prevalence increased in men (53.3% vs. 80.0% vs. 100.0%; p=0.007). Body mass index (BMI), GNRI, albumin, hemoglobin, vitamin B12, and folate showed no significant differences, although obesity was more common in mild impairment (p=0.035). In multivariable analysis (R²=0.136), better cognitive status was independently associated with higher handgrip strength (β=0.16, p=0.022), faster gait speed (β=4.47, p=0.004), and higher BMI (β=0.26, p=0.027).

Conclusion: Advancing cognitive decline in hospitalized older adults with AD is accompanied by a progressive reduction in physical function, particularly gait speed and muscle strength in men. While most biochemical nutritional markers remain stable across stages, anthropometric and functional measures show clearer associations with cognitive status. These findings highlight the importance of early detection of deterioration in both domains, as well as timely, individualized multimodal intervention.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared