Dementia can be diagnosed and detected early based on early symptoms. Therefore, knowing the early signs of the disease will help you limit the impact of this disease. So what are the signs of dementia?
Dementia is known to be a disease related to memory, thinking and social ability. It is usually caused by damage or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Since this is a serious disease, it is very important to detect the symptoms early. Join easyhealthylive.com to find out immediately the signs of people with dementia in the article below!
Common signs in people with dementia
Appetite
It may sound unexpected and unbelievable, but an unusual appetite is also a sign that you may have dementia. If a few seconds ago you were craving a bag of salty chips and then suddenly thought of greasy cakes, this could be the first symptom of cognitive decline.
Studies have shown that people with cognitive impairment and dementia often experience cravings for something, such as food cravings.
Food cravings are a sign of people with dementia
Always craving the same food
In 2015, the journal PLOS ONE (USA) published a study on the change in eating habits of patients with dementia. According to the results of the study, people with frontotemporal dementia (FD) and semantic dementia (SD) tend to crave a variety of foods. eat the same.
Change of appetite
When you have dementia, your appetite may also be altered. You may crave more, but you may also feel… anorexia!
A change in appetite, whether increased or decreased, is one of the other early signs of dementia. In addition to a change in food preferences, people with FTD and SD also have a change in appetite. Interestingly, the two opposite eating symptoms, “increased appetite” and “loss of appetite,” were observed in the same number of patients with mild Alzheimer’s, the researchers say.
Since nearly 70% of people with Alzheimer’s say they have some depressive symptoms, the researchers hypothesized that the loss of appetite could be caused by depression. Meanwhile, the researchers also say, the increase in appetite may reflect repetitive eating behavior because of severe memory impairment.
People with dementia are often prone to depression leading to loss of appetite
Changes in food preferences
If you suddenly have a craving for foods you’ve never enjoyed before, it’s best to seek medical attention. According to research, people with Alzheimer’s disease often have a change in food preferences. They are especially fond of sweet foods and confectionery even though they may have never eaten anything sweet before.
Therefore, if you feel suddenly craving for sweet foods and your eating preferences are no longer the same, this is a signal from your body to alert you to dementia. Do not be subjective, but talk to your doctor for timely treatment.
Furthermore, the Alzheimer’s Association also suggests that if you do have dementia that leads to sugar cravings, you should opt for naturally sweet fruits or vegetables instead of foods that contain sugar. artificial sweetness from sugar such as ice cream, cakes, syrups… In addition, you can add a small amount of pure honey to your savory dishes to limit the intake of too much sugar and lead to diabetes with dangerous complications.
Difficulty swallowing
The final sign of dementia is difficulty swallowing. According to research, difficulty swallowing is common in people with severe Alzheimer’s because up to 81.4% of Alzheimer’s patients have an eating disorder and have difficulty swallowing food. Alzheimer’s disease affects the part of the brain responsible for swallowing food.
People with severe Alzheimer’s will have difficulty swallowing food
Tips to prevent dementia
To reduce the risk of dementia as well as limit the symptoms and adverse effects of the disease, you can apply a few tips such as:
- Vitamin D supplements for the body: People with low levels of vitamin D in the blood are often twice as likely to develop dementia than people with adequate vitamin D supplements.
- Adopt the MIND diet: The MIND diet is a combination of the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. Foods in the MIND diet like green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, seeds and nuts, berries, whole grains, fish, etc. can help you reduce your risk of dementia.
- Exercise every day: Exercise is considered an effective method to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise can slow the rate of cognitive decline in healthy people, reducing symptoms in people with the disease. Therefore, you can spend about 30 minutes a day doing exercises to improve health.
Exercise can slow cognitive decline
Dementia is a dangerous disease that can affect your work and life. Therefore, pay attention to observe the signs of disease as well as apply health improvement measures to prevent dementia. And especially, do not forget to plan exercise to prevent this disease effectively.
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Reference source
If You’re Craving This, It Could Be an Early Sign of Dementia, Study Says https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/if-youre-craving-this-it-could-be- an-early-sign-of-dementia-study-says/ss-AAKfpFv#image=4 Accessed date: 01/07/2021
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
