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Nutritional Status in Self-Neglecting ElderlyElder self-neglect is the most common, and most compelling form of elder mistreatment. Individuals who cannot provide the basic needs for themselves may develop social, functional, and physical deficits. The CREST project has the goal of systematically characterizing these individuals, and the objective of the study reported here is to characterize aspects of their nutritional status. Self-neglect (SN) subjects referred from Adult Protective Services were recruited and consented. Control (CN) subjects were matched for age, gender, race, and socio-economic status when possible. Reported here are data on 47 SN subjects (age 77 +/- 7, mean +/- SD; body weight 76 kg +/- 26) and 40 CN subjects (77 +/- 7, 79 kg +/- 20). Blood samples were analyzed for indices of nutritional status. SN subjects had higher serum concentrations of homocysteine (p < 0.01) and methylmalonic acid (p < 0.05). Red blood cell folate levels were lower (p < 0.01) in the SN subjects and serum folate levels tended (p < 0.07) to be lower, also. C-reactive protein concentrations were higher than 10 mg/dL in 36% of SN subjects and 18% of CN subjects. Total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were similar in the two groups. These data demonstrate that the self-neglecting elderly population is at risk with respect to several markers of nutritional status.
Document ID
20080026339
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Oliver, S. Mathews
(Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Kelly, P. A.
(Baylor Coll. of Medicine Houston, TX, United States)
Pickens, S.
(Baylor Coll. of Medicine Houston, TX, United States)
Burnett, J.
(Baylor Coll. of Medicine Houston, TX, United States)
Dyer, C. B.
(Baylor Coll. of Medicine Houston, TX, United States)
Smith, S. M.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2006
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: April 1, 2006
End Date: April 5, 2006
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NIH P20-RR020626-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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