Dementia. 5 Food Changes That Can Be Alarming

ANDalthough memory problems are the best known symptom of dementia, there are a number of other characteristic signs of this diagnosis.

An article by HuffPost highlights that there are certain changes in eating habits that may indicate the presence of the disease. 

“ As a neurologist who spent decades studying brain health and memory, one of the most common questions families ask me is: ‘ My mother began eating strangely. Does this mean that you have Alzheimer’”, highlights neurologist Majid Fotuhi.

The expert explained that the answer is actually more complex than a simple yes or no. 

Dementia: Changes you should be aware of

Futuhi pointed out that if someone develops new eating habits, but their memory, discernment and daily behavior appear to be normal, this alone should not be cause for concern or alarm. 

“ This is exactly why a distinct and lasting change in eating habits deserves an adequate medical evaluation, not a guess”, he stresses. On this basis, take note of the food changes you should be aware of. 

1. Meals are simpler

“ One of the first changes families will be able to describe is that their loved one, who used to cook elaborate meals for decades, now makes simpler dishes, leaving even the kitchen squealed ", noted Joel Salinas, professor of neurology. 

More complex meals require planning and capabilities that dementia can affect. Neurologist Adam Mednick indicates that people may have difficulty planning, buying ingredients and preparing meals.

2. Loss of interest in food

According to neurologists, loss of interest in food is a common symptom of dementia. Fotuhi noted that changes in the brain can lead to loss of smell, which reduces the pleasure of eating. “The reduction of smell greatly reduces the pleasure of food. A person with dementia can describe meals as insufferable or dull ", highlights. 

In addition, meals require the use of cutlery and the maintenance of conversations, which can cause stress to people with dementia. 

3. Forget to eat or eat 

Since dementia affects memory, neurologists claim that it can lead to forgetfulness of eating or that one has eaten.

“ Dementia hinders the interpretation of the internal signs of the body about hunger and satiety, as well as the connection of these signs with external stimuli, such as the time of day or the sight of food”, says Mednick. 

4. Restricted food choices

As mentioned above, meals require planning, so it is common to always choose the same meal. This is because known foods create a sense of safety. 

5. Wishes for sweets

“The change to higher consumption of sweets is by far the most frequently reported change,” Mednick said. This change happens due to damage to the reward circuits and impulse control of the brain.

Fotuhi stated that the taste for sweets is more common in people with frontal temporal dementia (FPD), a distinct group of brain disorders that harm the frontal and temporal lobes. “The frontal lobe usually helps us regulate impulses and food choices. When it is damaged, this regulation weakens and sometimes dramatically arises a strong attraction to sweet foods and starch-rich foods, he explained.