1. Medical Nutrition Therapy for Neurologic Disorders
Chapter 43
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Neurologic Disorders

2. Neurologic Disease Classification
Neurologic diseases
—May have nutritional etiologies resulting from deficiency or excess
—Or may be nonnutritional in origin but have significant nutritional considerations

3. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders
1. Adrenoleukodystrophy
—Lorenzo’s oil lowers VLCFA
2. Alzheimer’s
—Assess nutritional status
—Minimize distractions at mealtime
—Initiate smell or touch of food
—Hand guidance to initiate eating
—Provide nutrient-dense foods

4. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
3. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
—Prevent malnutrition and dehydration
—Monitor dysphagia
4. Epilepsy
—Ketogenic diet
5. Guillain-Barré syndrome
—Attain positive energy balance using high-energy and protein tube feedings
—Assess dysphagia

5. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
6. Migraine headache
—Adequate dietary intake
—Extensive record keeping of symptoms and foods
7. Myasthenia gravis
—Nutrient-dense foods at beginning of meal
—Small, frequent meals
—Limit physical activity prior to meals

6. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
8. Multiple sclerosis
—Antioxidant supplements
—Evaluate health status
—Distribute fluids throughout waking hours, limit before bed
9. Neurotrauma
—Enteral/parenteral nutrition support

7. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
10. Parkinson’s disease
—Drug-nutrient interactions
—Minimize dietary protein at breakfast and lunch
—Ensure nutritionally complete diet
11. Pernicious anemia
—B12 injections
—Diet liberal in HBV protein
—Diet supplemented with iron, vitamin C, and B vitamins

8. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
12. Spinal trauma
—Enteral/parenteral nutrition support
—High fiber, adequate hydration to minimize constipation
—Dietary intake to maintain nutritional health and adequate weight
13. Stroke
—Prevention includes dietary alterations
—Maintain good nutritional status
—Assess possible dysphagia
—Enteral/parenteral support may be needed

9. Nutrition Therapy in Neurologic Disorders—cont’d
14. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
—Thiamin
—Adequate hydration
—Diet liberal in high-thiamin foods
—Eliminate ETOH
—Dietary protein may need to be restricted

10. Neurologic Syndromes Attributed to Nutritional Deficiency or Excess

11. Neurologic Syndromes Attributed to Nutritional Deficiency or Excess—cont’d

12. Spinal Cord Lying within the Vertebral Canal

13. Clinical Differences between Upper and Lower Motor Neuron Lesions

14. Basic Functions of Cranial Nerves

15. Techniques for Improving Acceptance
Aroma
Seasoning
Layering/swirling
Piping
Molding
Slurries
Garnishing

16. Normal Vision

17. Hemianopsia

18. Swallowing Occurs in Three Phases

19. Swallowing Occurs in Three Phases—cont’d

20. Stroke—Cause
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

21. Stroke—Pathophysiology
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

22. Stroke—Medical and Nutritional Management
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

23. Nutrition-Related Factors and Stroke Risk
(BMI = body mass index)

24. Alzheimer’s Disease—Cause
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

25. Alzheimer’s Disease—Pathophysiology
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

26. Alzheimer’s Disease—Medical and Nutritional Management
Algorithm content developed by John Anderson, PhD, and Sanford C. Garner, PhD, 2000.

27. Practical Interventions for Eating-Related Behavioral Problems Common in Individuals with Dementia

28. Practical Interventions for Eating-Related Behavioral Problems Common in Individuals with Dementia —cont’d

29. Diet for Easy Chewing and Swallowing

30. Typical Ketogenic Diet Menu Using MCT Oil

31. Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

32. Protein Redistribution in L-DOPA Therapy

33. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Syndromes

34. Sequelae of Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation Challenges

35. Localizing Signs of Mass Lesion
Lesions in the central portion of the frontal lobes may cause speech impairment.
Lesions of the occipital lobes affect the visual field.
Lesions of the cerebellum and brainstem affect the cranial nerves.
Lesions in the spinal cord affect motor neurons
Lesions of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus may induce electrolyte or metabolic abnormalities and/or visual disturbances.

36. Medical Nutrition Therapy
Cognitive and swallowing dysfunction usually affect nutritional management and place neurologic patients at risk for malnutrition.
The nutritional assessment should emphasize patterns of normal chewing, swallowing, and ingestion in addition to traditional assessment components.

37. Nutritional Support
Enteral nutrition support is the preferred modality for nutrition support in patients who cannot swallow or eat because of deteriorating neurologic disease.

38. Brain Injury
400,000 new cases of brain injury occur each year in the United States
Most result from motor vehicle crashes.
Incidence is highest in young people and elderly; twice as often in males than females
Almost all patients with a severe head injury have some degree of disability.

39. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Strong prognostic value for neurologic recovery in head-injured patients (scale evaluating and quantitating the degree of coma by determining best responses to standardized stimuli)
Eye opening (4 Spontaneous–1 None)
Verbal response (5 Oriented–1 None)
Motor response (6 Follows command–1 None)
Severity of head injury: mild = GCS 13-15, moderate = GCS 9-12, severe = GCS 3-8

40. Strong Predictors of Poor Outcome after Head Injury
Older age
Low Glasgow Coma Scale score
Pupil dilatation
Low blood pressure
All these variables have an additive effect on morbidity and mortality
Inadequate oxygenation early after injury
Prolonged and/or difficult to control intracranial pressure