*Review* **Management Strategies and Nursing Activities for Nutritional Care in Hospitalized Patients with Cognitive Decline: A Scoping Review**

**Gloria Liquori 1, Aurora De Leo 1,2, Daniele De Nuzzo 3, Victoria D'Inzeo 3, Rosario Marco Arancio 3, Emanuele Di Simone 2, Sara Dionisi 1, Noemi Giannetta 4, Francesco Ricciardi 3, Fabio Fabbian 5, Giovanni Battista Orsi 6, Marco Di Muzio <sup>3</sup> and Christian Napoli 7,\***

	- <sup>3</sup> Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
	- <sup>4</sup> School of Nursing, UniCamillus—Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
	- <sup>5</sup> Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
	- <sup>6</sup> Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
	- <sup>7</sup> Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
	- **\*** Correspondence: christian.napoli@uniroma1.it; Tel.: +39-06-3377-5529

**Abstract:** Cognitive impairment and dementia can negatively impact the nutritional capacities of older people. Malnutrition is common in hospitalized frail elderly people with cognitive impairment and negatively affects prognosis. Malnutrition worsens the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. This scoping review aimed to identify factors affecting the risk of malnutrition and preventive strategies in hospitalized patients with cognitive impairment, focusing on nursing interventions. The authors researched population, context, and concept in international databases of nursing interest. Full texts that met the inclusion criteria were selected and reviewed. The extracted data were subject to thematic analysis. A five-stage approach, already reported in the scientific literature, was utilized in the following scoping review. Of 638 articles yielded, 9 were included. Two focus areas were identified as follows: (1) prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition in older patients with cognitive decline; (2) nursing strategies used to enhance clinical outcomes. Nursing health interventions aim to recognize and reduce malnutrition risk, positively impacting this phenomenon. A multidisciplinary team is essential to meet the nutritional needs of these patients.

**Keywords:** cognitive impairment; cognitive decline; nutritional care; hospitalized patient; elderly patient
