Resting Energy Expenditure in Relation to Energy Intake in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease, Multi-infarct Dementia and in Control Women

Abstract

Energy intake and resting energy expenditure in relation to body composition were studied in female patients with Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia and in home-living non-demented elderly women. Patients with Alzheimer's disease tended to have lower body weight and higher energy intake (p=NS) than control subjects or patients with multi-infarct dementia. Resting energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the groups (1089±129 kcal/day for patients with Alzheimer's disease, 1078±102 kcal/day for patients with multi-infarct dementia and 1188 ±143 kcal/day for control women; mean±SD). Energy expenditure did not differ between the groups when calculated in relation to body weight or lean body mass. In institutionalized female patients with long-standing Alzheimer's disease the resting energy expenditure was not increased, but they tended to have low body weight despite a high energy intake.