5 Small Changes To Eating Habits That Can Be Signs Of Dementia

Something as seemingly harmless as a sweet craving could signal something bigger if it fits certain criteria.

On Assignment For HuffPost

Once your parents, grandparents or other older adults in your life reach a certain age, it’s natural to become hypervigilant about their changing health, wanting to catch any potential issues as soon as possible. (Not to mention, it makes you more self-aware about your own signs of aging.) Certainly, that includes being aware of the early signs of dementia.

Though there is no cure for dementia (which is an umbrella term describing multiple forms of cognitive impairment, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common type), there are treatments that can slow progression so those who have it can have a better quality of life for longer. While memory problems are the hallmark symptom of dementia that many people focus on, it’s not the only early sign of dementia. Certain changes in eating habits and mealtime can also be signs of dementia.

“As a neurologist who has spent decades studying brain health and memory, one of the most common questions I get from families is this: ‘My mother has started eating strangely. Does that mean she has Alzheimer’s?’” Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Mind/Brain Institute, and author of “The Invincible Brain,” told HuffPost.

Fotuhi explained that the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes-or-no, but there are specific changes that often serve as a tell. Below are five changes in eating habits that can be signs of dementia, according to neurologists.

Changes To Watch Out For

Futuhi emphasised that if someone you love develops new and unusual eating habits but their memory, judgment and daily functioning otherwise seem fine, that alone should not make you worry about Alzheimer’s. He explained that the changes could be an indication of something else, such as depression, anxiety, a side effect from medication or dental problems.

“This is exactly why a distinct and lasting change in eating behaviour deserves a proper medical evaluation rather than a guess,” Fotuhi said, adding that any changes in eating habits should be evaluated by a medical professional. With that in mind, below are five changes in eating habits to be on the lookout for.

1. Mealtime gets simpler

“One of the........

© HuffPost