Although there is a lot of research on how to predict Parkinson’s disease or develop technologies to delay onset or alleviate symptoms, some experts believe that more studies should be focusing on Parkinson’s patients’ nutrition.
Digital health could prove a valuable resource for both Parkinson’s patients and caregivers, in providing more information on nutrition and other lifestyle needs, a new study suggests.
Proper nutrition — and how foods interact with medication — is an important issue within long-term care settings, with some spaces opting for keeping nutrition experts on staff. One recent study warned that nursing homes often serve food linked to inflammation.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Nutritional Education and Behavior, suggests that Parkinson’s patients are ideal candidates for digital health platforms because of their mobility issues and the need for caregivers to be present during some patients’ health appointments.
“Progression of disease increases reliance on informal caregivers to help manage PD, including diet,” the authors write in the study. “Nutrition care as part of the treatment plan for PD patients is essential because of weight status changes and cognitive, swallow and physical decline.”
Among those interviewed during the research, digital platforms helped facilitate conversations with nutrition experts, and others with the disease, the study authors stated.
Despite overall positive results, some users found the amount of information on digital platforms overwhelming, or that using technology to track health and diet would ultimately prove too cumbersome.
Although there aren’t specific dietary needs for Parkinson’s patients overall, individual symptoms may require special considerations for issues such as swallowing and low blood pressure, the Michael J. Fox Foundation states.
Beyond medical needs, serving appropriate meals within long-term care can help alleviate residents’ feelings of depression, as experts have written in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
