Research Article

Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer's patients at an early stage?

Number: 1 March 28, 2026
TR EN

Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer's patients at an early stage?

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study is to compare early and mid-stage Alzheimer's disease patients and patients without Alzheimer's disease in terms of nutrition, muscle strength and frailty. Materials and Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional study conducted in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary health centre between 1 April and 1 December 2024. Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed according to the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association Working Groups criteria. According to the minimal status examination, 20-24 were considered mild and 10-19 were considered moderate dementia patients. MNA-SF (Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form) test for malnutrition, Handgrip strength (HGS) for muscle strength, FRAIL questionnaire for frailty were applied. Results: There was no significant difference between Alzheimer's disease patients (n=32; 20 early stage- 12 middle stage) and control patients without Alzheimer's disease (n=32) in terms of age and gender (p=0.279, p=0.768). MNA-SF and muscle strength were significantly lower in the Alzheimer's group compared to the control group (p=0.009, p<0.001). FRAIL score was significantly higher in the Alzheimer's group compared to the control group (p=0.010). MNA-SF, muscle strength were statistically significantly lower in the early stage Alzheimer's group (n=20) compared to the control group (n=32) (p=0.025, p=0.006). FRAIL score was statistically significantly higher in the early stage Alzheimer's group (n=20) compared to the control group (n=32) (p=0.011). Conclusion: Our study shows that Alzheimer's disease negatively affects the nutritional status and muscle strength of individuals even in the early stage. Therefore, it is important to regularly screen Alzheimer's patients for malnutrition risk and muscle strength.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declare this study to have received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all participants. The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Istanbul Training and Research Hospital ethics committee approved the study (22.12.2023/349).

Thanks

none

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Geriatrics and Gerontology, Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 28, 2026

Submission Date

November 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

APA
Akkan Suzan, A., Bilgin, S., Turkoglu, T. N., Suzan, V., & Yılmaz, Ö. (2026). Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage? Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, 1. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1819165
AMA
1.Akkan Suzan A, Bilgin S, Turkoglu TN, Suzan V, Yılmaz Ö. Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage? TJCL. 2026;(1). doi:10.18663/tjcl.1819165
Chicago
Akkan Suzan, Ayşegül, Seyda Bilgin, Tugce Nur Turkoglu, Veysel Suzan, and Özlem Yılmaz. 2026. “Are Nutrition and Muscle Strength Impaired in Alzheimer’s Patients at an Early Stage?”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1819165.
EndNote
Akkan Suzan A, Bilgin S, Turkoglu TN, Suzan V, Yılmaz Ö (March 1, 2026) Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage? Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory 1
IEEE
[1]A. Akkan Suzan, S. Bilgin, T. N. Turkoglu, V. Suzan, and Ö. Yılmaz, “Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage?”, TJCL, no. 1, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.18663/tjcl.1819165.
ISNAD
Akkan Suzan, Ayşegül - Bilgin, Seyda - Turkoglu, Tugce Nur - Suzan, Veysel - Yılmaz, Özlem. “Are Nutrition and Muscle Strength Impaired in Alzheimer’s Patients at an Early Stage?”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory. 1 (March 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.1819165.
JAMA
1.Akkan Suzan A, Bilgin S, Turkoglu TN, Suzan V, Yılmaz Ö. Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage? TJCL. 2026. doi:10.18663/tjcl.1819165.
MLA
Akkan Suzan, Ayşegül, et al. “Are Nutrition and Muscle Strength Impaired in Alzheimer’s Patients at an Early Stage?”. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory, no. 1, Mar. 2026, doi:10.18663/tjcl.1819165.
Vancouver
1.Ayşegül Akkan Suzan, Seyda Bilgin, Tugce Nur Turkoglu, Veysel Suzan, Özlem Yılmaz. Are nutrition and muscle strength impaired in Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage? TJCL. 2026 Mar. 1;(1). doi:10.18663/tjcl.1819165

e-ISSN: 2149-8296

Publication Model: Continuous Publication

Peer Review Model: Double-Blind Peer Review

Publication Language: Turkish and English

Access Model: Open Access

DOI Prefix: (Crossref DOI numaranız)

Publisher: DNT Ortadoğu Publishing Inc.

Journal Abbreviation: Turk J Clin Lab

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