To describe the prevalence of malnutrition in persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP) and to compare the clinical characteristics with nutritional status. 

Weight loss is a frequent feature in PwP, leading to a higher risk of malnutrition⁽¹⁾. The prevalence of malnutrition has been reported to be between 15%-26%^(2,3,4). PwP with malnutrition had shown to had a major motor dysfunction⁽⁵⁾.

An analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted. PwP attending the Movement Disorders clinic at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City were included. Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF: 0-7, malnutrition; 8-11, risk of malnutrition; and 12-14, normal nutrition status).  The MDS-UPDRS part III was used for the motor evaluation. To evaluate the stage of the disease, the Hoehn and Yahr scale was used (H&Y: 1-2, mild; 3, moderate; and 4-5 severe). 

A total of 48 subjects (54.2% male), the mean age was 59.5±13.2 with a mean duration of disease 10±8.6 years. Concerning the nutritional status, 8 (16.7%) subjects had malnutrition, 13 (27.1%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 27 (56.3%) had a normal nutritional status. Regarding the motor evaluation, subjects with malnutrition had a major disturbance than cases with normal nutritional status (47.5±23 vs 31.7±15.7, p<0.05). Besides, patients with a severe stage of the disease had the highest prevalence of malnutrition (37.5%). Otherwise, subjects with a mild stage of the disease had more commonly a normal nutritional status (69.5%). 

In our study, we found a higher prevalence of malnutrition in severe stages of the disease as well as a higher disturbance in motor evaluation in patients with malnutrition. We can conclude that malnutrition could play an important role in the motor progression of the disease. However further cohort studies with a larger sample size would be needed to confirm these findings.