Related Experiment Videos
Malnutrition and depression in the institutionalised elderly.
Christine Smoliner1, Kristina Norman, Karl-Heinz Wagner
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany. christine.smoliner@charite.de
The British Journal of Nutrition
|July 23, 2009
Summary
Malnutrition and depression are common in elderly nursing home residents. This study found a significant association between poor nutritional status and depressive symptoms, impacting quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Malnutrition and depression are prevalent in institutionalized elderly individuals.
- These conditions can lead to adverse health outcomes, affecting self-care and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between nutritional status and depressive symptoms in nursing home residents.
- To explore the impact of these conditions on self-caring capacity and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 114 nursing home residents.
- Nutritional status assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
- Depressive symptoms evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
- Self-caring capacity measured by the Barthel Index (BI); quality of life by the SF-36 questionnaire.
Main Results:
- 22.8% of residents were malnourished, and 57.9% were at nutritional risk.
- 21.3% had major and 34.7% had minor depressive symptoms.
- A significant correlation was found between MNA and GDS scores (r = -0.313, P = 0.006).
- Depressive symptoms (GDS) were the sole independent risk factor for malnutrition.
- Quality of life was negatively affected in malnourished residents and those with depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- An association exists between malnutrition and depressive symptoms in nursing home residents.
- The complex relationship's directionality (cause or consequence) requires further investigation.
- Future research should explore the effects of depression treatment on nutritional and functional status.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...