Is there any connection to dementia and not feeling hungry?

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Is there any connection to dementia and not feeling hungry?

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My 93 year old Mom has been telling me lately that she's not hungry when she's supposed to eat (breakfast, lunch, dinner). This is something new and I do notice her dementia progressing (more confusion, etc.).

I give her the meal anyway and she ends up eating it. I'm just curious if her brain is not letting her know that she is hungry.

Thanks, Jenna

Alzheimer's & Dementia Loss of Appetite

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Yes. The mind no longer can tell the body its hungry or thirsty.

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Thanks, that's what I was thinking but didn't know for sure.

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The brain is 'broken'. essentially. I'll see mother eat a full meal, and half hour later she's starting to make another 'exactly the same meal'.

She cannot tell if she's hungry or thirsty, but on the upside, she also doesn't feel any pain anymore.

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Yes, I have been aware that my Mom's brain has been "broken" for about 5 or 6 years now. I give my Mom her meals but once in a while she will butter a slice of bread or help herself to cake.

But she is in pain (chronic headaches) and has them upon wakening and throughout the day into night. I have brought her to neurologists, the ER, a pain management center, eye doctor, and no one knows why. She has had MRI's, CT-Scans, EEG's, etc.

I think it's possible that her headaches are tension headaches but I'm not a doctor.

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Jenna,

You are are doing the best that you can by offering her lots of different foods.

Your mom’s headaches could also also be caused by dehydration. Dehydration can cause debilitating headaches. (Dehydration will cause additional health problems if untreated).

Put lots of (hydrating) drinks in front of her. Use pretty, varied glasses. Plastic picnic glasses are lighter/easier to handle. Choose different taste combinations and try colorful drinks to make this as fun (and enticing) as possible for her.

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Thanks for your kind words. I wish dehydration was the problem but my Mom always has a glass of water next to her that she drinks all day long.

Sometimes I think she is having mini-strokes which could possibly be causing her headaches. From what I read TIA's is one of the causes of vascular dementia. What I find interesting is before the dementia started, my Mom never complained of headaches.

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Is there any connection to dementia and not feeling hungry?

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