Did you know that food cravings are known to change with dementia? A sudden change in appetite or an increase craving for unhealthy food is not uncommon for dementia patients.

Taste buds diminish as we get older and especially with those with dementia. This means patients usually look to sugary foods and food that are high in calories to fulfill that flavor.

This can become an unhealthy habit causing weight gain, diabetes and even more health issues. It is important to learn how to manage food cravings for dementia patients.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Make sure they are not distracted while eating. This can cause them to overindulge easily if they are not paying attention to how much they are consuming.
• Encourage them to eat with friends and loved ones. And when dining with others, try to make the focus healthy meals all around the table!
• Try to get them to consume a lot of protein. This can be found in protein drinks, protein bars, meat and eggs.
• Also, try to get them to eat plenty of their vegetables. It is best to stick to organic and greens.
• Help them avoid alcohol.
• Make sure they are getting plenty of sleep.
• Encourage walks and other exercises.

Dementia patients go through a lot of changes, so it is no surprise that they have a change in food cravings. It is ok to indulge every once in a while, but make sure dementia patients are still exercising, their body and their mind!

Cognitive Exercises

Cognitive training can be positive to maintain brain heath as you age. Think of your brain like a muscle, you need to use it or lose it. Brain games like our Brain U Online are challenging games that strengthens the brain.

Start training your brain today and mitigate the onset of dementia by 2 years with Brain U Online!

Medical Disclaimer:
By reading this blog, I acknowledge that I am not creating or entering a clinical or medical relationship with Dr. DenBoer and SMART Brain Aging. I understand that all materiel included in this blog is strictly for informational purposes only. The content is to provide me with information and knowledge and I will not substitute it for diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. I am aware the author does not hold a medical degree or license and is simply providing me additional information on a variety of health topics.