Prevalence of Malnutrition in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) Questionnaire

This study is intended to explore the associations between nutritional status and molecular biomarkers and the clinical severity of Parkinson’s disease (PD), as well as to examine the differences in related factors between PD patients with normal nutrition and those with at risk for malnutrition. A cross-sectional assessment of 82 consecutive outpatients with PD was conducted using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Hoehn and Yahr scale to determine the nutritional status, the clinical severity of PD, and the stage of the disease. Recordings of blood samples collected after 12 h of overnight fasting were also assessed in terms of serum levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), hemoglobin (Hgb), folate, and vitamin B12. All participants were divided into normal nutrition and malnutrition risk groups via the MNA scores to compare the above-mentioned parameters. The results showed that the total MNA score was significantly correlated with some parts of the UPDRS scale (e.g., Sections 1 and 2) and the levels of HbAlc in PD patients and those with risk for malnutrition, with significantly lower weight and body mass index (BMI), and with lower levels of Hgb and HDL. Higher levels of cholesterol were observed in the malnutrition risk group as compared with the normal nutrition group. The findings suggest that the clinical severity of PD is associated with nutritional status. Body weight, BMI, and the levels of Hgb, cholesterol, and HDL could be, at least partially, important biological markers to monitor malnutrition and the progression of the disease.

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Nutritional assessment in patients with Parkinson’s disease: The nutri-park study

Nutrition and Healthy Aging ◽

10.3233/nha-200083 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 297-305

Author(s):

S. Gatti ◽

M. Carugi ◽

V. Palermo ◽

C. Casellato ◽

C. Gambini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Nutritional Assessment ◽

Mini Nutritional Assessment ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance ◽

Impedance Analysis ◽

Protein Distribution

BACKGROUND: Several studies have found a link between nutritional status and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess both nutritional status and dietary habits of PD patients with respect to controls and to compare disease progression in relation to dietary habits, such as protein distribution diet (PRD) adherence. METHODS: We collected anthropometric measurements, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, dietary habits, micro- and macronutrients intakes, body composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), muscle strength and gait speed of 66 PD patients and 58 controls (40 healthy controls and 18 subjects with essential tremor). Clinical scales and progression indexes were recorded in PD group. RESULTS: No significant differences emerged between PD and controls in anthropometric and BIA measurements; a comparable dietary intake between the two groups was recorded. Sarcopenia and dynapenia were comparable between the two groups. PD resulted more at risk of malnutrition than controls to MNA, only three patients and one control were malnourished. A notable inverse correlation was observed between MNA and PD Questionnaire 8. PD following a PRD showed a slower progression index. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status of PD patients is not so different from elderly controls. PRD is recommended for patients with PD.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Skin biopsy and I-123 MIBG scintigraphy findings in idiopathic Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism: a comparative study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725392448.793505595 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph Jankovic ◽

Mary Ann Thenganatt

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Skin Biopsy ◽

Idiopathic Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Mibg Scintigraphy ◽

Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

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Global efficiency of the motor network is decreased in Parkinson's disease in comparison with essential tremor and healthy controls

Brain and Behavior ◽

10.1002/brb3.2178 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natalia Pelizari Novaes ◽

Joana Bisol Balardin ◽

Fabiana Campos Hirata ◽

Luciano Melo ◽

Edson Amaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Essential Tremor ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Global Efficiency ◽

Motor Network

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Vestibular semicircular canal function as detected by video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) is essentially unchanged in people with Parkinson’s disease compared to healthy controls

Journal of Vestibular Research ◽

10.3233/ves-201626 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Kim E. Hawkins ◽

Elodie Chiarovano ◽

Serene S. Paul ◽

Ann M Burgess ◽

Hamish G. MacDougall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Semicircular Canal ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽

Vestibular Function ◽

Head Impulse Test ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Video Head Impulse Test ◽

Head Impulse ◽

Vestibulo Ocular Reflex

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common multi-system neurodegenerative disorder with possible vestibular system dysfunction, but prior vestibular function test findings are equivocal. OBJECTIVE: To report and compare vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain as measured by the video head impulse test (vHIT) in participants with PD, including tremor dominant and postural instability/gait dysfunction phenotypes, with healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Forty participants with PD and 40 age- and gender-matched HC had their vestibular function assessed. Lateral and vertical semicircular canal VOR gains were measured with vHIT. VOR canal gains between PD participants and HC were compared with independent samples t-tests. Two distinct PD phenotypes were compared to HC using Tukey’s ANOVA. The relationship of VOR gain with PD duration, phenotype, severity and age were investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in vHIT VOR gain for lateral or vertical canals. There was no evidence of an effect of PD severity, phenotype or age on VOR gains in the PD group. CONCLUSION: The impulsive angular VOR pathways are not significantly affected by the pathophysiological changes associated with mild to moderate PD.

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Oral Factors That Impact the Oral Microbiota in Parkinson’s Disease

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9081616 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1616

Author(s):

Natalia S. Rozas ◽

Gena D. Tribble ◽

Cameron B. Jeter

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Oral Health ◽

Soft Tissue ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Oral Microbiota ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Salivary Ph

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are at increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, their primary cause of death. Their oral microbiota differs from healthy controls, exacerbating this risk. Our goal was to explore if poor oral health, poor oral hygiene, and dysphagia status affect the oral microbiota composition of these patients. In this cross-sectional case-control study, the oral microbiota from hard and soft tissues of patients with PD (n = 30) and age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (n = 30) was compared using 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial identification. Study participants completed dietary, oral hygiene, drooling, and dysphagia questionnaires, and an oral health screening. Significant differences in soft tissue beta-diversity (p < 0.005) were found, and a higher abundance of opportunistic oral pathogens was detected in patients with PD. Factors that significantly influenced soft tissue beta-diversity and microbiota composition include dysphagia, drooling (both p < 0.05), and salivary pH (p < 0.005). Thus, patients with PD show significant differences in their oral microbiota compared to the controls, which may be due, in part, to dysphagia, drooling, and salivary pH. Understanding factors that alter their oral microbiota could lead to the development of diagnostic and treatment strategies that improve the quality of life and survivability of these patients.

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