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Malnutrition und mentale Funktionen

Malnutrition and mental functions

  • FOLGEN DER MALNUTRITION
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Summary

Prolonged suboptimal intake of micronutrients leads via a series of mechanisms to impairment of cognitive performance. Supplementation can correct these deficits. Malnutrition impairs cognitive performance only when micronutrient levels fall below certain critical thresholds. Malnutrition in the elderly is commonly the result of preexisting mental impairment due to chronic diseases. These also lead to accelerated neuronal destruction via a stress response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal exis. Subtle dietary deficits can lead over many years to quantifiable impairment of cognitive performance. Severe dietary deficiency leading to major cognitive impairment is nevertheless rare.

Zusammenfassung

Eine langdauernde suboptimale Versorgung mit Mikronährstoffen führt über eine Reihe von Mechanismen zu schlechteren kognitiven Leistungen. Supplementierungen sind geeignet, diese Defizite auszugleichen. Eigentliche Mangel- oder Unterernährung beeinträchtigt die kognitiven Leistungen nur, wenn kritische Grenzen unterschritten werden. Die Malnutrition ist in höherem Alter häufig das Resultat einer bereits bestehenden Hirnleistungsstörung als Folge chronischer Krankheiten. Diese wiederum führen über eine Streßantwort über Hypothalamus – Hypophysen – Nebennierenachse zu einem beschleunigten neuronalen Untergang. Subtile Mangelversorgungen können über viele Jahre zu einer meßbaren Verminderung der kognitiven Leistungsfähigkeit im höheren Alter führen. Schwere Mangelzustände, die zu starken kognitiven Einbußen führen, sind allerdings selten.

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  1. Geriatrische Universitätsklinik, Kantonsspital, CH-4031, Basel, CH

    H. B. Stähelin

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  1. H. B. Stähelin
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Stähelin, H.B. Malnutrition und mentale Funktionen. Z Gerontol Geriat 32 (Suppl 1), S27–S30 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003910050177

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