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Natural history of hyperphagia and other eating changes in dementia
Author(s) -
Keene Janet,
Hope Tony
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(1998100)13:10<700::aid-gps855>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - overeating , dementia , psychology , prospective cohort study , longitudinal study , meal , medicine , gerontology , observational study , alzheimer's disease , psychiatry , disease , obesity , pathology
Abstract Objective . To investigate the natural history of overeating (hyperphagia) and its elements during the course of dementia. Design . Prospective longitudinal study of overeating (hyperphagia) in dementia. Two studies were carried out: (1) hyperphagia and associated eating changes were investigated as part of a larger prospective 10‐year study into behaviour changes, using carers' reports; (2) an observational study to investigate hyperphagia quantitatively; this took place over the course of a year by means of direct observation of test meals in a normal environment. Setting . Subjects with dementia living in Oxfordshire, UK. Participants . (1) 99 people with dementia, living at home with a carer, with data for more than 1 year. (2) Nine people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease who were hyperphagic. Measures . (1) The Present Behavioural Examination was used at 4‐monthly intervals to assess the subjects' behaviour and psychological functioning. (2) Food intake, macronutrient choice and the microstructure of eating were measured using a standardized test meal. Results . (1) Severe or persistent hyperphagia was reported in 23% of the sample and carers reported a clear onset to hyperphagia with a median duration of 16 months. (2) From direct observation, each person who was hyperphagic was seen to maintain a constant eating rate in test meals during the course of a year but meals ended earlier as hyperphagia decreased. Conclusions . Hyperphagia is common in dementia, it occurs over a single restricted period, mainly during the middle stages of dementia, and is not significantly related to age, sex, diagnosis, medication or activity.Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.