Nutrition and DementiaAlzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, afflicting approximately 5.8 million Americans in 2020. As the American population continues to live longer, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is expected to increase. In many cases, dementia leads to serious nutritional problems as patients become unable to normally consume adequate nutrients, often due to swallowing impairments and loss of appetite. Ultimately, patients usually experience weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration. Dr. Douglas' research focuses on interventions to improve nutritional status and quality of life among older adults with dementia.
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Feeding Tube Use |
Research suggests that feeding tubes should not be used to provide nutrition and hydration to older adults with dementia. However, approximately one third of nursing home patients with dementia have a feeding tube. Dr. Douglas's team is researching personal and organizational factors that make health care team members more likely to recommend feeding tube placement in this patient population. She is also investigating how families make these decisions for their loved ones with dementia.
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Dementia Care Training |
Dr. Douglas is currently implementing and evaluating a training program to teach family caregivers and members of the health care team how to provide mealtime assistance to older adults with dementia. In 2018, Dr. Douglas conducted a qualitative research project to identify barriers to hand-feeding patients with dementia by conducting focus groups with Certified Nursing Assistants in Alabama nursing homes. In 2019, she conducted a similar needs assessment with Registered Dietitians on their experiences in providing mealtime assistance to residents with dementia and their perceived training needs related to dementia care. She also pilot-tested an innovative hand feeding technique with these Registered Dietitians.
View some of her research findings here: douglas_lawrence_and_turner_-_social_ecological_perspectives_of_tube_feeding_older_adults_with_advanced_dementia_a_systematic_literature_review.pdf shcj_2020_douglas.pdf 2019_gsa_poster-_perfect_dining_experience.pptx 2019_gsa_poster_2_from_cna_study_as_of_11-8-19_-_organization_and_policy.pptx 2019_gsa_poster_3_from_cna_study_as_of_11-8-19_-_individual_and_interpersonal.pptx 2019_gsa_poster_4_from_cna_study_as_of_11-8-19_-_ideal_training_program.pptx content_and_adequacy_of_dementia_care_training_for_rds_-_as_of_9-16-20.pdf final_were_bettertogether_9-22-20.pdf |
Brain Injury |
Dr. Douglas also works with the Alabama Head Injury Foundation to support brain injury survivors and their caregivers throughout the state.
In 2020, she received a grant entitled: 'Students Supporting Brain Injury Survivors and their Caregivers: A Community Engagement Project' from the Council on Community-Based Partnerships at The University of Alabama. Through this project, she and her students provide nutrition education and counseling to brain injury survivors and their caregivers at the UA Bright Ideas TBI Camp. Each year at camp, UA faculty and students from multiple healthcare disciplines to provide services to at-risk brain injury survivors in West Alabama. She is also conducting a needs assessment to determine the nutrition-related needs of community-dwelling brain injury survivors and their caregivers. View some of her research findings here: a_focus_group_study_for_2021_fnce_poster_presentation_09-21-21.pdf jd_-_fnce_poster_-_nutrition_challenges_and_needed_resources.pdf |
The GRAND Study |
Dr. Douglas is collaborating with Drs. Amy Ellis, Kristi Crowe-White, Saroja Voruganti, and Kristine Yaffe on a study entitled, 'Genetics, Race, and Nutrition Differentially Influencing Risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD): The GRAND Study. Utilizing data from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study completed by the National Institute on Aging, the GRAND Study employs the Social Ecological Model to investigate nutrition-related lifestyle factors and gene-by-environment interactions that may protect against ADRD in older adults.
View some of the team's initial findings here: final_habc_gsa_poster_2020.pdf |