Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

Major neurodegenerative disorders affecting older adults include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. AD is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 50-60% of all cases. Many AD patients experience unintentional weight loss that has negative prognostic implications, being associated with greater disease severity, a faster clinical progression rate, and increased mortality. Given that there are no curative therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, nutritional management may offer an opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of these devastating conditions. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that dietary interventions may have benefits for preventing and/or reducing the incidence of these disorders but rigorous, well-powered intervention trials are needed before clinical recommendations can be evidence-based.