NEUROLOGY
Improve patient treatment and long-term outcomes
Disclaimer: InBody devices should be used as an adjunct tool for clinical decision-making and are not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases.
Why is body composition analysis an effective tool for assessing neurological health?
Body composition is important for understanding and assessing changes in body fat and muscle mass, which can be important indicators for conditions like muscle wasting or metabolic disorders. It provides valuable information for monitoring and managing a patient’s overall health.
In addition, body composition analysis helps to differentiate between muscle, fat, and body water levels in neurological conditions. It provides insights into fluid balance, which can be crucial for managing conditions such as cerebral edema or dehydration.
In less than 70 seconds, healthcare providers receive an InBody Result Sheet (body composition printout) that can aid in:
- Obtaining objective fluid measures and guide fluid management strategies
- Effectively monitoring nutrition status and leading interventions
- Tracking patient progress and predicting surgical outcomes
Empowered by objective data, healthcare providers can more effectively identify, treat, and manage neurological conditions, improving patient treatment plans and quality of life.
MUSCLE-FAT ANALYSIS
Balance individual muscle and fat development.
Muscle-fat body composition analysis can help the healthcare provider assess low muscle, muscle wasting or loss in older patients which may be associated with cognitive impairment (Nakamura, et al., 2020) as well as neuromuscular disorders or conditions, including ALS, as shown by He, et al., 2022. Accordingly, maintenance of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) can help prevent the worsening of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease (Iritani, et al., 2021).
SMM can also be an important parameter in assessing nutrition intervention benefits. In pediatric patients who suffer from brain lesion disorder, Yoon, et al., 2022 measured SMM to determine the benefits of a nutritional supplement intervention.
SEGMENTAL LEAN ANALYSIS
Modify patient interventions.
Appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) refers to the lean mass in both the upper and lower extremities, as shown in the Segmental Lean Analysis section of the InBody Results. It is used to calculate skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), a parameter used in determining sarcopenia. These values help to assess muscle health and overall body composition. ASM and SMI were found to be related to swallowing and eating function at discharge for stroke patients (Sato, et al., 2022). Further, Salvioni, et al., 2021 used measures of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) patients to assess changes that were shown to be associated with dysphagia and speech intelligibility. In a study by Demura, et al., 2023, correlations were assessed between ASM decline in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and sarcopenia.
ECW/TBW RATIO ANALYSIS
Boost treatment success, long-term outcomes and prevent complications from fluid accumulation.
Acquiring baseline measures and monitoring changes in extracellular water to total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) affords healthcare providers with data that may be used to make treatment modifications that are unique to a patient’s health status and diagnosis, track inflammation, and improve rehabilitative outcomes. Monitoring body water changes during rehabilitation can help promote successful treatment management of metabolic conditions associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as shown by He, et al., 2021.
Analysis of ECW/TBW can aid healthcare providers in the diagnosis and management of conditions involving cognitive impairment. A study by Lee, et al., 2022 discusses the usefulness of measuring ECW/TBW to assess cognitive function in healthy older individuals. Furthermore, associations between decreased cognition and higher ratios of ECW/TBW have also been shown in patients with type 2 diabetes, as seen in a study by Low, et al., 2021. This finding highlights the importance of body fluid balance.
WHOLE BODY PHASE ANGLE
Gain insights into the effects of fluid accumulation on cellular health.
Analysis of whole-body phase angle (PhA) can provide valuable insights for assessing cellular health and nutritional status, which can be associated with muscle atrophy or neurodegenerative diseases. When excess fluid builds up around our cells, it can cause pressure that affects their form, structure, function, and stability. InBody can objectively track edema progression and treatment effects using PhA.
In their studies, Sato, et al., 2022 and Tanaka, et al., 2022 concluded that PhA may also be a useful indicator of sarcopenia and malnutrition in stroke patients. They also stated that ‘extracellular water/intracellular water ratio significantly increased, and the phase angle significantly decreased, suggesting that the muscle quality have declined’, showing the relationship between fluid levels and phase angle. Abe, et al., 2021 discussed the importance of PhA as an independent predictor of acute stroke patients’ physical function at discharge, while Bise, et al., 2022 found that phase angle was associated both with physical function recovery as well as dysphagia level and defined cutoff values for sarcopenia diagnosis in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.
BODY FLUID ANALYSIS
Evaluate fluid imbalances and prevent complications
Extracellular water to total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) can be helpful, preoperatively, in the assessment of fluid imbalances in living donor hepatectomy patients, helping to determine the distribution of body water (Suh, et al., 2022). Additionally, Honda, et al., 2022 monitored body composition changes, including fluid imbalances, in patients undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, observing significant decreases in ECW, TBW, and intracellular water (ICW).
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