Neurodegenerative diseases; nutritional aspects

Abstract

Introduction: neurodegenerative diseases cause changes in the level of consciousness or swallowing mechanisms that often necessitate a specialized nutritional support. Objective: review the risk of malnutrition and its treatment in patients with cerebral vascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Development: degenerative neurological diseases are one of the main indications for nutritional support in our country. In acute processes (cerebral vascular disease), proper nutritional management is related to better outcomes and reduced complications. In chronic neurodegenerative processes (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dementia), malnutrition is a major problem that worsens the prognosis of these patients, the proper management of dysphagia and its complications, as well as the use of different stages of support being necessary nutritional. A correct nutritional evaluation of these patients and a right nutrition intervention is essential in monitoring their disease. Finally, in advanced Parkinson’s disease, nutritional support, as in previous neurodegenerative diseases, is of huge importance. Protein dietary load and its distribution in the diet of these patients are important, too. Finally, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition ASPEN recommend, with a degree of evidence B, performing a screening of malnutrition in patients with neurological diseases. Conclusions: a correct nutritional evaluation and adequate nutritional support should be part of diagnostic and therapeutic process of these diseases.