Nutritional Support in Chronic Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Dementia and Parkinson’s disease are the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases. Both are strongly associated with weight loss and malnutrition. The pathophysiology of weight loss in neurodegenerative disease is multifaceted and still not well understood. However, nutritional management in such patients has the potential to support medical treatment and reduce complications. Besides the general principles of nutritional support, there are some dementia-specific approaches such as family-style meals and caregiver education, as well as the avoidance of tube feeding in advanced dementia. In Parkinson’s disease, especially dysphagia interferes with the nutritional state and has to be addressed as early as it appears.