Dementia experts have revealed that one eating habit could signal an early warning sign of the disease, specifically frontotemporal dementia. According to charity, Dementia UK, this neurodegenerative disease (known as FTD) is an uncommon subtype of dementia.
Affecting approximately one in 20 patients with the condition, this type, at first, does not present with memory loss or difficulty concentrating. Instead, one of its first signs is obsessive or repetitive behaviour, which can manifest in eating habits.
According to a specialised article from the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), FTD is associated with a wide range of abnormal eating behaviours. This includes binge eating, obsessions with certain foods, and even consuming non-edible objects, reports as.com.
Backing up this, sciencedaily also note that FTD is associated with a wide variety of abnormal eating behaviors, making an already tough situation difficult. Some patients may refuse to eat any food that doesn’t align with their fixation. For example, one documented case involves a woman who consumed only bananas and milk for several months. An autopsy following her death confirmed she had FTD.
There have been cases of individuals with FTD taking food from others’ plates or completely disregarding their dietary restrictions. “These behaviours can be problematic both physically and socially,” says Marilena Aiello, a researcher at SISSA who participated in a review on the disease.
The study reveals: “Several findings reveal that such eating alterations are more common in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) than other types of dementia. Moreover, eating alterations may differ between the two variants of the disease, namely the behavioral variant and semantic dementia (SD).”
She explained: “Patients tend to gain weight. Although in some extreme cases they lose weight due to obsessive consumption of a single food.”
Although these findings provide insight, the exact reason FTD impacts eating habits in these ways is unclear. However, Aiello suggests disruption of the autonomic nervous system may play a key role by influencing hunger perception, satiety and appetite.
Additionally, damage to the hypothalamus could impair inhibitory signals, leading to uncontrolled eating behavior. This part of the brain helps produce hormones that regulate heart rate, body temperature, hunger and our sleep-wake cycle.
Sensory and cognitive factors may also contribute, including difficulty distinguishing edible from non-edible objects.
What are the symptoms of FTD?
Unusual changes in eating habits can be a sign of frontotemporal dementia, but other symptoms are also common. According to NHS England, the most common forms of FTD typically involve personality and behavioral changes.
This includes impulsive or inappropriate actions, a lack of empathy, neglect of personal hygiene and loss of motivation. Language difficulties may also arise, including slow speech or trouble using words correctly or in the proper order within a sentence.
People may also struggle with organising and planning tasks and are easily distracted. As mentioned, although memory loss is not one of the initial symptoms, it often appears in more advanced stages of the disease.
Other physical signs include:
- slow or rigid movements
- muscle weakness
- loss of bladder or bowel control as well as difficulties swallowing (usually in the later stages)
If you think you have problems surrounding eating and need support, you can find free and confidential help via the Beat website here.