Dementia & Hunger, Improving Nutrition and Satiety
Updated: 15 hours ago
Have you spent time with a person who has dementia and been confused and frustrated by odd and often contradictory complaints regarding food and hunger?
The complaints can swing to both extremes... acute hunger despite, eating their fill not half an hour before; or even more frustrating, malnourishment due to total disinterest in food and refusal to eat.
These are signs of hunger signal confusion. Our sense of hunger and satiety are led by and intricate and dynamic dance of neurotransmitters and their receptors. When receptors are damaged or impaired, that dance can become unbalanced as the system looses it's methods of communication and regulation.
Following are some solutions to help regain balance, reduce frustration and improve health.
Make Food Visible, Healthy and Convenient
Whichever extreme an individual is currently operating within, easy access to healthful foods can even-out hunger and satiety swings.
Photos on the Refrigerator
Making the invisible, visible is a game-changer for many people whose hunger signals have become muddled and unclear. Often, they do not realize they are hungry until they see something appetizing. Being able to see options and their bveing immediately available goes a long way.
One solution I have used is to place healthful, single-serving meals and snacks in the refrigerator and then put photos on the fridge door. With this the person is stimulated by the appetizing images and opens the door for immediate gratification.
Here are a couple of samples. If you wish to create your own, linked is a template you can customize using Canva.
Free Canva Template: https://canva.link/sdzz2c9eejone70
Healthy Snacks
Keeping low-glycemic-load snacks set out in the kitchen or near a favorite seating area in the living room or study is another simple solution. Trail mix, nuts, whole fruits and grass-fed beef sticks are some of my favorite options. I especially like customizing a trail mix to favorite nuts, dark chocolate and dried fruits. (I avoid store-bought mixes because the seems to invariable contain unclean chocolate candy, hydrogenated oils, sugary fruit and are frequently rancid.)
Keep it Sociable
Eating is hard-wired into us as a highly-sociable activity. The social component can help those with hunger signal confusion synchronize and their systems with others, leading to better intake, satiety and digestion. Don't underestimate the nutritional benefits of laughter, comradery and familiarity in resetting our systems.
Water & Electrolytes
Hunger signalling is also intertwined with thirst. A thirst signal can be mis-perceived as hunger. Cognitive impairments can also hamper fluid intake and hydration problems can be further compounded by medications such as diuretics or laxatives. Because dehydration and low electrolytic levels are commonplace among seniors, this is an an import element check and track. Dehydration causes confusion, fatigue, dizziness and other signs similar to dementia. Unless the senior is drinking a lot of purified water (no minerals) you almost can't go wrong adding unsweetened fluids. Most recommendations emphasize that "water is best", but if that is simply unappealing, adding some citrus juice or other flavorings to make it more attractive is perfectly acceptable. Just try to come up with clever additions that are non-caloric and free of artificial dyes.
The NHS lists the following as common signs of dehydration to watch for:
feeling thirsty
dark yellow, strong-smelling urine
urinating less frequently than usual
dizziness or light-headedness
tiredness
dry mouth, lips or eyes
headache
Dos...
Check - A quick and easy "pinch test" gives a rough but useful indication of hydration. Note: a back-of-a-knuckle test can be more useful than back-of-the-hand when checking hydration levels in elderly.
include electrolytes in your hydration routines
have your serum osmolality checked regularly
have electrolyte (sodium, chloride and potassium) levels included in your blood work
Don'ts...
Do NOT drink R.O. or distilled water. These methods of purification remove all mineral content, the presence of which is vitally important.
Do not assume disorientation is a caused by dementia.
Please note, these are not exhaustive lists or solutions, but ideas to consider as you works to understand and solve issues around dementia and nutrition.
As with all health-related decisions, consult your medical provider before making changes to your health routines.
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