1999 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 73-82
This paper describes the features of "feeding rhythm disorder" according to the severity of dementia as measured by the use of a recording sheet developed in our previous study. The subjects for this study were six elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease (two with moderate, two with severe and two with very severe dementia). Using this sheet, we compared the results of evaluation of feeding rhythm with basically no assistance given to the patient for feeding and evaluation of feeding rhythm with assistance given. The findings were as follows. 1. There was not a great change in the total number of "intervals" that were identified as "feeding rhythm disorder" except for in one patient with severe dementia. However, the total duration of such "intervals" changed significantly in all subjects. 2. In all subjects, the meal time became significantly shorter (75.2 ± 19.9 min to 55.7 ± 17.4 min). There was a strong correlation between the duration of "intervals" and meal time, suggesting that shortening the duration of "intervals" would lead shorter meal time. 3. The rate of self-feeding decreased with progression of dementia severity, indicating the importance of not merely waiting for the restoration of self-feeding in patients with very severe dementia but promoting the restoration of "feeding rhythm disorder" by assisted feeding. 4. "Feeding rhythm disorder" in elderly patients with dementia is a disorder of feeding cycles and is greatly influenced by "intervals".
