Three food cravings that could be early warning signs of dementia
The memory loss disease can cause significant problems with memory and body language and certain food choices could act as an indication someone is suffering from dementia.
Christopher Sharp
Chris Attridge
Keiran Fleming
Three food cravings could be an early sign of dementia
According to experts, craving certain foods could be a sign of dementia.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of syndromes related to memory loss, according to the NHS.
Many people are often confused about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia, reports the Daily Record.
While Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, one of the rarer forms, known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), causes problems with behaviour and language - and food choices could indicate the condition, Wales Online reports.
The Alzheimer's UK charity said patients with FTD may "crave sweet, fatty foods, or carbohydrates and forget their table manners," adding: "They may also no longer know when to stop eating, drinking alcohol, or smoking."
Scottish sporting legend Sir Jackie Stewart's wife Helen was diagnosed with FTD back in 2014.
The diagnosis prompted the ex-Formula One driver to launch Race Against Dementia, a global charity which aims to increase the rate at which science moves towards a breakthrough in tackling the illness.
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer, with around 67,000 people dying from the disease every year.
But Race Against Dementia scientist Dr Cara Croft says a new treatment could become available within the next 10 years.
As well as changes in eating habits, other symptoms of FTD are:
• Being insensitive or rude
• Acting impulsively
• Loss of inhibitions
• Seeming subdued
• Losing interest in people and things
• Losing drive and motivation
• Inability to emphasis with others
• Repetitive behaviours
• Compulsive eating
• Neglecting personal hygiene
• Using words incorrectly
• Loss of vocabulary
• Repeating a limited number of phrases
• Forgetting the meaning of common words.
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