How Dementia Affects Appetite And Eating Habits – What Families Should Know

Changes in appetite and eating habits are common in people living with dementia, and unfortunately, it can have a significant negative effect on their health.

Research involving 6,513 older adults with dementia found that around one-third were malnourished, while almost half were considered at risk of malnutrition

For many families with loved ones living in dementia care homes, recognising changes in their appetite and eating habits can help them access the right support and reduce the risk of associated problems.

This article explains why dementia can affect eating, the changes families may notice and practical ways to support healthy, enjoyable mealtimes.

How Memory Loss Can Affect Eating Habits in Dementia

Memory loss can make it difficult for residents living with dementia to remember when they last ate or drank.

For example, a resident might think they’ve already had breakfast when they haven’t. They also leave long gaps between meals or ask for another meal shortly after finishing one because they don’t remember eating it.

Changes to memory can also affect familiar mealtime routines, with residents no longer recognising that a particular time of day means it is time to eat and usually needing a reminder to sit down for a meal or have a drink. All of this contributes to eating too little, drinking less than they need or, in some cases, eating more frequently.

Why Dementia Can Change Taste and Food Preferences

Dementia can change how food tastes and smells, which explains why residents suddenly lose interest in meals they have been enjoying for years or start asking for foods they rarely ate before.

A particularly common change is a stronger preference for sweet foods.
Residents might start choosing desserts or other sweet options over nutritious food more often because foods with subtler flavours become less appealing. Changes in smell can also affect appetite because smell plays an important role in how we experience flavour.

Families may find these changes surprising, especially when a loved one’s food preferences have been consistent throughout their life. However, a sudden dislike of a familiar meal doesn’t necessarily mean they no longer want to eat. The food itself may taste different to them than it did before.

Dementia Can Make Eating More Difficult

As dementia progresses, residents may find some parts of eating more difficult and need extra support at mealtimes.

This might mean struggling to use cutlery, losing concentration halfway through a meal or taking much longer to eat than they used to.
Chewing and swallowing can also become more difficult in the later stages of dementia. This is known as dysphagia. Residents cough while eating or drinking or start avoiding foods they find difficult to chew or swallow.

Families usually notice these changes before their loved one can explain what is wrong. But for those living in dementia care homes, families can assist by providing staff with a baseline of what is normal for their relative, so they can keep an eye out for any changes.

If there are new or ongoing difficulties with chewing or swallowing, these should always be raised with the care staff and appropriate healthcare professional.

Other Health Problems Can Affect Appetite Too

A change in appetite shouldn’t automatically be put down to dementia.

Residents might be eating less because of dental problems, constipation, pain, illness or side effects from medication. Depression can also affect appetite, while a dry or sore mouth can make eating uncomfortable.

This is particularly important when the change happens suddenly. If a resident who usually eats well starts refusing meals, loses weight without an obvious reason or seems uncomfortable when eating, families and care teams should assess whether another health problem may be involved.

That’s why it’s important to keep track of when the change started, so that any new symptoms can provide healthcare professionals with useful information when looking for the cause.

Supporting Residents as Eating Habits Change

Changes in appetite and eating habits can have many causes in dementia, from forgetting meal times and changes in taste to no longer being able to use cutlery properly, as well as chewing or swallowing difficulties. But remember, they can also be caused by medication, pain or another health condition, so a new change shouldn’t automatically be attributed to dementia.

Eating habits can continue to change as dementia progresses, but identifying the true cause helps families understand what support their loved one needs to live as healthily as they can.