Nutrition therapy in neurological diseases : the basic knowledge

Abstract

Nutrition therapy is extremely important for neurological diseases in order to improve patients' prognosis and quality of life. In the recent years, nutritional therapy has been recommended in the treatment guidelines for several disorders, including stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nutritional disorders in patients with neurological diseases vary depending on the background disease and pathological conditions. Furthermore, because of the wide range of lesions (including those in the central nerves, peripheral nerves, and muscles), several disorders such as dysphagia, respiratory disorders, motor paralysis, muscle rigidity, involuntary movements, and ataxia often coexist in patients. Moreover, patients may also have other complications such as constipation, diarrhea, pressure ulcers, and aspiration pneumonia. In order to provide appropriate nutritional therapy, each patient must be provided tailor–made interventions and support ; sharing of knowledge among multidisciplinary experts would aid the development of such interventions.