Positive Health Online

Abstract

KEENE and HOPE, University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford UK write that up to one third of dementia sufferers eat more food at some stage during their dementia compared to before the onset of their illness. Additionally, over half of people with dementia are reported by their carers to show a marked change in food choice, especially an increased preference for sweet food.

Background

Methodology

The macronutrient content of foods chosen and ratio of sweet to savoury foods were experimentally studied using a standardised mixed meal. 3 subject groups were studied: 17 people with dementia reported by their carers to overeat and who ate excessively under experimental conditions; 14 people with dementia who ate a normal amount; and normal, non-demented controls (18 under 50 years old and 14 over 50 years old).

Results

The normal elderly people chose a lower proportion of high-protein food than the young. The proportion of protein eaten was lower in people with dementia than in age-matched controls and even lower in the overeating dementia group. The proportion of sweet food eaten was higher in people with dementia and even higher in people with dementia who overate. A number of mechanisms which could explain these results are discussed.

Conclusion

References

Keene JM and Hope T. Hyperphagia in dementia: 2. Food choices and their macronutrient contents in hyperphagia, dementia and ageing. Appetite 28(2): 167-75. Apr 1997.