Association between geriatric malnutrition and the risk of dementia: a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study in Uganda

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist from low-income settings on the association between unintentional geriatric malnutrition and the risk of dementia. Our study investigated this association and stratified risk factors in geriatric cohort from Uganda. METHOD: This multicentre retrospective cross-sectional cohort study enrolled geriatric patients from specialist care hospital in one Public and two private facilities in Kampala. Nutritional status was stratified as malnourished or well-nourished. The primary outcome was dementia. Logistic regression evaluated the association between malnutrition and dementia. Separate models explored dementia risk factors within each nutritional subgroup. RESULTS: Overall, 210 participants(mean age 75.72 ± 7.93yrs) were recruited. The prevalence of malnutrition was 25%, with 30 of 129 females (23.3%) and 23 of 81 males(28.4%) being affected. Among malnourished participants, 37(29.1%) had a caregiver. Malnutrition was significantly associated with dementia(adjusted odds ratio[OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.01-6.55; P = 0.048). Stratified analysis revealed divergent risk profiles. Among malnourished patients, history of cardiovascular disease(CVD) was associated with dementia(odds ratio[OR], 5.80; 95% CI, 1.25-16.90; β = + 1.76; P = 0.025). Among well-nourished patients, only increasing age was independently associated with dementia(OR, 1.07 per year; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; β = + 0.07; P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, unintentional malnutrition was associated with dementia. Among malnourished individuals, CVD was the major associated factor, whereas age was the major factor among well-nourished participants. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and determine whether improving nutritional status may prevent or slow dementia progression.