Dementia warning as craving certain foods 'could be a sign of the disease'
A hankering for certain food could be an early warning sign of dementia, experts have warned. Dementia is a broad term used to describe a variety of conditions that cause memory loss, with Alzheimer's disease being the most prevalent type. Vascular dementia accounts for the majority of other cases.
However, there are also less common forms of dementia, one of which is known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This condition can lead to behavioural and language difficulties, and may even change a person's preferred food choices.
Alzheimer's UK, a leading charity, explains that FTD patients may "crave sweet, fatty foods, or carbohydrates and forget their table manners". They added: "They may also no longer know when to stop eating, drinking alcohol, or smoking."
Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, claiming the lives of approximately 67,000 people across the four nations each year.
In an effort to raise awareness and accelerate scientific progress towards a cure, Scottish Formula One driver Sir Jackie Stewart founded Race Against Dementia after his wife was diagnosed with FTD in 2014.
The charity is optimistic about the development of a new treatment for the disease within the next decade, according to scientist Dr Cara Croft.
It is through that initiative that Sir Jackie is helping to fund a new trial at the University of Cambridge which hopes to spot signs of the disease in people many years before it ever begins to have an effect.
In more than a decade since her diagnosis, however, Lady Helen's dementia has steadily progressed over time.
And Sir Jackie, 85, previously recounted how his wife of more than 60 years forgot who he was.
Speaking in 2022, he told the BBC: 'Just the other day it was time for dinner, she's getting up and I'm sitting close by, and she says, 'Where's Jackie?' That's the first time that's happened and that's only a few weeks ago.
'A bad feeling came over me.'
He went on to say that his wife's mind is in 'a new world' and that she is now no longer able to walk on her own as a result of her condition.
What are the symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?
As well as changes in eating habits, other symptoms of FTD include:
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Disruptors put the focus on speedy resolutions at Law Awards
For more than 20 years these awards have been recognising individuals and organisations that have made a positive contribution to the reputation of Scotland's legal profession and amongst the many stand-out qualities looked for by the judges is a sense of innovation and signs that nominees are leading the way in helping Scottish law to adapt to the demands of contemporary society. One company that is most definitely shaping the way in which the law is practiced is 123 Medical Services, the medical legal firm that, for the next two years, is the headline sponsor of The Herald Law Awards of Scotland. Since it was established in 2017, 123 Medical Services has pioneered a new approach to working with the medical profession, establishing a distinguished panel of clinical specialists who can bring their expert opinion to bear on a wide range of issues. Under the guidance of MD, Sairah Din, the company has carved out a reputation not just for its approach to clinical excellence, but also for the speed at which it resolves the legal issues surrounding even the most complex of cases, recognising that clients deserve timely access to justice. Speed matters, says Din because unresolved cases place an unnecessary burden on clients. 'It is all too easy for delay to creep in for no other reason than that matters are not pursued in a timely manner, but at 123 we continue to teach the legal community the benefits to clients of reaching a speedy settlement whether dealing with a minor, soft tissue injury or a multi-disciplinary psychiatric, surgical and neurological puzzle.' Working with orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, GPs, gynaecologists, neurologists and many others, 123 Medical Services can offer expert response across a wide range of issues and, if it doesn't have the necessary expertise within the firm, it will work actively to identify where that can be located. Sairah Din, Managing Director at 123 Medical Services (Image: 123 Medical Services) Din says: 'Our job is to help the case move forward, one way or another. We are proud to be seen as disruptors in the medico-legal space and our presence at the Awards is more than symbolic: it's a reflection of our deep belief in supporting legal professionals to do what they do best, providing support for their clients.' This year, as well as being title sponsors, 123 Medical Services is also sponsoring the Rising Star at the Scottish Bar, Up and Coming and Paralegal of the Year awards. These are three of the 19 categories that include, for the first time, a Junior Counsel of the Year award, a Strategic Transactions Team of the Year Award and a Digital and Intellectual Property Team of the Year Award. Candidates across all categories have until Thursday, 4 September to submit their applications, while the event itself will take place on Friday, 7 November in the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow when figures from across the Scottish legal profession will have a chance to come together for an evening of networking and celebration. A full list of all of this year's awards categories and online application forms are available from (Image: NQ Staff)
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alzheimer's disease risk 'halved' by eating one food every week
This popular food is found in most kitchens and could have brain-boosting properties. A popular food found in most kitchens could help lower the risk of dementia by almost half. A new study has found that eating one egg per week was linked to a 47 per cent reduction in the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. This was the case compared to people who consumed eggs less than once each month. It was also found that people who ate eggs had a reduced build up of the toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer's. However, it is important to note that some authors of the study, which was published in The Journal of Nutrition, received funding from the Egg Nutrition Centre in the US. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the world. As reported by Medical News Today, the study included data from 1,024 older adults with an average age of 81.4. Participants attended annual check-ups and completed food frequency questionnaires, and the researchers followed them for an average of 6.7 years. Over this period of time, just over a quarter of them developed Alzheimer's disease. Analysis of this information showed that people who consumed at least one egg per week had a 47 per cent reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's during follow-up compared with those eating one egg per month or fewer. In the same study, a post-mortem on the brains of 578 participants revealed that those who ate one or more eggs each week were more likely to have less Alzheimer's-associated protein build up. Choline and omega-3 It is thought the brain-boosting benefits of eggs come from two nutrients, choline and omega-3. Previous studies have shown that choline is vital for cognitive function. Study authors said explained that 'choline modulates the expression of key genes related to memory, learning, and cognitive functions via epigenetic mechanisms.' They also described eggs as a 'top food source' of choline. Eggs are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health as we age. Study authors suggested that the choline and omega-3s in eggs might have a 'synergistic' effect, whereby they join forces to protect brain health during ageing. Previous research has also shown that people with Alzheimer's are more likely to be deficient in omega-3s and choline. However, the researchers concluded that further investigation was needed. They said: 'Once replicated in other prospective cohorts and confirmed by clinical trials, these findings may have important public health implications for reducing the population's risk of [Alzheimer's].'
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
This alarming health problem makes children miss school - and how we fix it
Scientists are warning about a simple health issue causing hundreds of thousands of children to miss extra days of school. Tooth decay and other dental issues mean pupils lose hours of valuable lesson time – with the poorest kids worst affected. The problem has been revealed by researchers in Scotland, but they warn that the tooth fairy could be even busier in England. Their study of over 260,000 Scottish children found that children with tooth decay missed on average five more half-days of school per year than those with healthy teeth. A staggering third, more than 85,000 children, were suffering from poor oral health. School absences got longer with worsening dental problems. Children who needed emergency treatment for their teeth or had to have them removed under general anaesthetic lost more than three days of lessons. Mariel Goulart, a dentist who led the research for Glasgow University, told Metro: 'Missing school, even just half-days, can hurt a child's learning 'This study shows that fixing tooth decay isn't just about health – it's about giving kids a fair chance in school, especially in deprived communities.' The study, which looked at kids aged 4 to 7 years old, was published on July 7 this year. Of the children being studied who had tooth decay, they missed on average22 half days, or 11 full days at school. Those without tooth decay missed only 15 half-days or 7 full days. When researchers adjusted these results to account for other factors, they found children with caries experience (tooth decay) missed on average five more half-days of school per year. The most concerning finding, however, was how children from poorer backgrounds could miss even more school due to dental hygiene. Researchers found that school kids in the poorest areas missed nearly twice as many days due to teeth problems compared to those in wealthier areas. Goulart said of this result: 'I honestly didn't think it would be this much. 'Child poverty is something that is really important for oral health and education outcomes are related to income levels.' Government research shows that pupils who performed better both at the end of primary and secondary school missed fewer days than those who didn't perform as well. Goulart says, however, that poor oral hygiene could be impacting learning even if kids turn up to lessons. She explained: 'What about the days when children were at school but in pain? Were they paying attention to the classroom? I don't think so.' As a result, the researcher is calling for free school meals to be rolled out more widely across the UK. 'Free school meals should be available for every child despite personal income,' she said. 'If you have a healthy meal, it is one time less a day that you eat sugar, biscuits or anything that's harmful for your teeth.' Over 380,000 pupils in Scotland will be eligible for free school meals in the coming school year. Scotland also introduced a supervised toothbrushing programme, called Childsmile in nurseries and schools from 2008. Goulart acknowledged Childsmile had successfully brought down rates of tooth decay. Indeed, the latest National Dental Inspection Programme results show 73 per cent of Primary 1 children (reception in English education) have no obvious tooth decay compared with 58% in 2008, when Childsmile was introduced. A similar toothbrushing programme was only rolled out in England in March 2025. Goulart told Metro the delay in introducing a toothbrushing scheme meant the number of children missing school due to dental issues could be higher in England than across the border. The government's new scheme aims to give 600,000 children in the most deprived areas access to supervised toothbrushing. Health minister Stephen Kinnock said in March: 'It is shocking that a third of 5-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay – something we know can have a lifelong impact on their health. 'On top of this, we will reform the dental contract to get dentists providing more NHS work as we fundamentally reform the sector through our Plan for Change so it is there for patients once again. 'It's why we're delivering supervised toothbrushing to young children and families who are most in need of support as part of our wider plans to revive the oral health of the nation. 'This includes providing 23 million free toothbrushes and toothpastes through our partnership with Colgate-Palmolive to reach up to 600,000 children each year. 'We're already rolling out 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments for those who need treatment, but by focusing on prevention we can help children have the best start in life.' More Trending According to Department for Education data, the absence rate in state-funded primary schools was 5.2 percent in the 2024/25 academic year to date. Of these, 3.8 per cent of these absences were authorised while 1.4 per cent were unauthorised. A Scottish Government spokesperson praised the 15% improvement in dental hygiene since the introduction of Childsmile. They told Metro: 'Every child should be able to attend school feeling comfortable, confident, and ready to learn, and this research highlights the importance of oral improvement programmes in education settings.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Boy, 10, killed in coach crash back from Somerset zoo trip named by police MORE: At least 16 dead after fighter jet crashes into school in Bangladesh MORE: 'I'm flying them abroad while I work': How parents are entertaining kids this summer
