Expert: Michalene Peticca - 9/7/2008

Question
What is the physiologic reason for the wasting away of a person in the late stages other than lack of desire to eat?

Every effort is being made to get the calories into my Dad but is there more to it than that?

Answer
Hello Jean,

You pose a very good question that many people ask about Alzheimer's and Dementia disorders.

Since Alzheimer's is a physiologic disease of the brain, and the brain controls All aspects of our bodily functions....a deterioration of the "signals" and "conductors" telling our bodies what to do when, break down and thus, our bodies do not work properly.

Consider your brain the "control panel" for your bodily function of digesting food...when a major breakdown occurs, the body cannot process the nutrients properly and therefore, nutrients are "wasted" in the system and flush out or at times, may overbuild (we have seen many AD folks develop diabetes in late stages!)

Many Alzheimer's individuals are given extra supplements through specific high protein, high calorie health shakes to slow down the overall weight decline.  I would suggest contact your father's physician to see if this would be appropriate to add to his diet.

Otherwise, it is one of the devastating "side effects" of the disease and whatever your father likes to eat, i would give that to him often.

Hope this helps!

Best Regards,

Michalene Peticca, MA