Cravings for certain types of food could be a sign of dementia, according to experts. 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, the Express 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."
One notable patient is Sir Jackie Stewart's wife Helen, who was diagnosed with FTD in 2014. The diagnosis prompted the racing driver to launch global charity Race Against Dementia, which aims to increase the rate at which science moves towards a breakthrough in tackling the illness.
Statistically, 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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