Dysphagia And Dementia: Examining The Interrelation

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the relation between dementia and dysphagia. The medical records of twenty-two individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer\u27s or Dementia of the Alzheimer\u27s Type (DAT) were evaluated to determine severity of dementia, nutritional status, and signs/symptoms of dysphagia (level of eating dependency and weight changes). The degree of dementia (Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE) was correlated with lab values indicating nutrition and hydration status. MMSE scores were also correlated with age and level of eating dependency. No significant correlation was found between the areas examined. Of interest to note was the finding that lab values associated with malnutrition and dehydration were not routinely collected in this subject population. Also, it appears in order to adequately examine the relation between these conditions, more sensitive measures of dementia and levels of dependency are needed