The IA is a reliable method for assessing in demented and non-demented elderly subjects several dimensions of the apathetic syndrome, and also the subject's awareness of these symptoms.

The intervention reduced BPSD in severely demented nursing home residents and this effect was still present 3 months after the end of the programme.

During the follow-up of patients with Alzheimer disease, risk factors for these 2 modes of weight loss should be sought to identify patients who would benefit from a nutritional intervention. Our findings lead us to advocate follow-up, which involves an assessment of functional, nutritional, and neuropsychologic status every 6 mo.

Apathy is rarely identified as a problem in NH. Emotional blunting was the only dimension sensitive to change. Failure to improve residents' level of interest could be explained by the difficulties encountered in accessing information regarding the subjects' personal interests. But it remains possible to modify residents' emotional reactivity and staff's perceptions of residents' behaviors and emotions.

During the follow-up of patients with Alzheimer disease, risk factors for these 2 modes of weight loss should be sought to identify patients who would benefit from a nutritional intervention. Our findings lead us to advocate follow-up, which involves an assessment of functional, nutritional, and neuropsychologic status every 6 mo.

The trial suggested that, to fight against anorexia, the stimulation of touch (finger food; chewing, even on edentulous gums) and hearing (intra-oral sounds) could be valuable alternatives to sight, smell and taste alterations.

In a double-blind trial, 194 ambulatory elderly patients (mean age, 74 +/- 8 years) recovering from acute illnesses were randomly assigned to receive either ornithine oxoglutarate (OGO) or a placebo. Nine subjects withdrew during the study, six in the OGO group and three in the placebo group. OGO and the placebo were administered once daily at a dose of 10 g after lunch for 2 months; the patients were monitored for a total of 4 months. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of nutritional variables, quality of life and total cost of medical treatment. The analysis involved a total of 185 patients (93 in the placebo group and 92 in the OGO group). The two groups were comparable at inclusion. After 30 and 60 days of treatment, there was a significant improvement in the following variables in the OGO group relative to the placebo group: appetite (p < 0.001), body weight (p < 0.001) and independence (p < 0.01). Two months after the end of treatment, there was still a significant improvement in the quality-of-life index (p < 0.001) and the medical-cost index (p < 0.03) in the OGO group, with an overall cost saving of 37%. We conclude that OGO seems to be a cost-effective nutritional supplement for elderly convalescent patients.

No abstract