Weight Loss In Elderly Patients

Many people with dementia lose weight in the later stages.

Weight loss in elderly patients. Weight loss can interfere with day to day functionality causing a decline in quality of life. The leading causes of involuntary weight loss are depression especially in residents of. People in the later stages of dementia may experience loss of appetite among other symptoms.

There are several reasons this can occur in seniors including the natural aging process. Weight loss can affect the immune system and make it harder for the person to. Seniors are more at risk for these causes if they live in a long term care facility do not receive frequent and adequate healthcare checkups or have a family history of any of these causes.

Weight loss is a reduction of more than 5 of body weight over 1 month or 10 over 6 months. Elderly patients with unintentional weight loss are at higher risk for infection depression and death. Unintentional weight loss is defined as a loss of 5 of your body weight within a six to 12 month period.

5 common causes of weight loss in seniors. Recent data suggests that close to 30 of people over the age of 65 experience involuntary weight loss. Most medical professionals define unintentional weight loss as a 5 10 decrease in body weight over 1 to 12 months and more specifically a 5 loss over a 6 month period.

Elderly patients with unintentional weight loss are at higher risk for infection depression and death. The leading causes of involuntary weight loss are depression especially in residents of long term care facilities cancer lung and gastrointestinal malignancies cardiac disorders and benign gastrointestinal diseases. Unintentional weight loss i e more than a 5 reduction in body weight within six to 12 months occurs in 15 to 20 of older adults and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality 1 in.

Eating and drinking becomes more difficult as dementia progresses. 2 useful screening questions include asking older patients if their clothing has loosened or if they have had to wear a smaller size. You are good to point out that it is first of all important to discover the cause s and not jump to conclusions or a solution before really delving in.