Strange changes in eating habits — such as a lifelong vegetarian suddenly wanting to eat meat — could be an often overlooked sign of dementia, a leading doctor warns.
Unusual food cravings can indicate dementia, especially in early-onset cases, which affect people under the age of 65.
In a TikTok video that has been viewed almost 30,000 times, dementia expert at the University of Southampton, Dr. Kellyn Lee, said changes in eating habits can be shocking for relatives.
“When we think about food, we often know that person for a long time,” she said – GazetaExpress reports.
"We know what they eat, what they like and what they don't. But when the brain no longer functions the way it used to... tastes change."
The psychologist added: “For example, someone who always loved fish and chips now doesn’t like it anymore. Someone who enjoys a beef lunch now doesn’t eat it at all. The texture of the food may feel different, so the person may think: ‘I used to like it, but now it doesn’t go into my mouth anymore.’”
Dr. Lee's warning is also supported by dementia charities, which also point out that changes in diet could be an early sign of a particular form of dementia that most often strikes young people.
The Alzheimer's Association says that a sudden craving for sweet or fatty foods could be an indicator of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
This is a rare form of the disease that affects behavior and personality, not memory.
FTD accounts for around 2% of dementia cases in the UK, but around 12% of cases of early-onset dementia – defined as diagnosis before the age of 65.
Studies show that these food-related behaviors are much more common in FTD than in Alzheimer's, with many patients experiencing increased appetite, overeating, or loss of table manners.
Experts say these changes are among the most distinctive – but often overlooked – early symptoms of the disease.
The Alzheimer's Association also says that, in general, dementia patients can experience difficult changes in food preferences, which can be stressful for family members.
For example, dementia patients who previously never consumed meat, or especially pork, for religious reasons may no longer see this as a problem.
Commenting on Dr. Lee's video, several users shared personal experiences of how dementia had changed the way their loved ones ate.
"My mother was a vegetarian for 35 years. Now, with FTD, and after being moved into permanent care, she eats everything and in large quantities," one user wrote.
Another said: "My husband says food burns or numbs his tongue. It's really hard to find foods he'll eat now."
A third, who works in dementia care, added: “A resident came in, the family said she was a strict vegetarian. She didn’t like vegetarian food and started choosing meaty food. The family weren’t happy.”
In her video, Dr. Lee added that another challenge related to food in dementia patients is the fact that they often forget they have eaten and ask for food again.
"You could have had lunch half an hour ago and then you're sitting in the living room and the person says, 'So when are we going to have lunch? We haven't eaten yet.'"
"Then you can say, 'We ate lunch.' This can then lead to an argument or a feeling of anxiety because the person doesn't remember eating."
Instead, Dr. Lee recommended using a “distracting task,” essentially assuring the person that they will be eating soon and engaging in an activity, like turning on music, to distract them.
“So you can say, 'Okay, we're going to have lunch in a bit,' and then use a distracting activity,” she said.
Around 944,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while in the US this number is around seven million.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated that the total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion per year, with the greatest burden falling on families.
The ageing population will see these costs – including the loss of income of unpaid carers – rise to £90 billion within the next 15 years.
While dementia can be caused by several health problems, the main cause is usually Alzheimer's disease.
Memory problems, difficulties with thinking and judgment, and language problems are common early symptoms of the disease, which worsen over time.
An analysis by Alzheimer's Research UK found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, compared to 69,178 the year before - making it the biggest cause of death in the country. /Express newspaper/
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