My DH's first symptom was loss of smell/taste. Over 10 years ago, he complained of this (diagnosed with MCI, probable AD 4 1/2 years ago. This was even before he started having memory problems. While I've read that it can be the earliest symptom of AD since the olfactory area of the brain is right near the place hit first in the hippocampus, not all AD patients are troubled with this. It is very upsetting to him that he can't taste food--how cruel that this pleasurable experience has been taken away with so much else. Does anyone have any suggestions for coping with it? So far, it has not affected his appetite--I think he even forgets he can't taste until he starts eating. The doctor says there is nothing to be done.
This was our first hint also...I'm a "cooK", so this has always been a major part of our lives and entertaining. We tried everything..herbs, minerals, nothing helped. Now I go for major texture in his food as well as spicy things he would have freaked out at before. One thing is pepperoncini peppers for sandwiches. That is a major thing he can really taste..not really hot, but a strong vinegar flavor..with texture...great on tuna, poultry or any sandwiches..especially grilled ones. I have many other ideas that have helped if you want to e-mail me. I taught cooking for years and do know what I'm talking about...at least in this area of expertise..:-).
Actually, not so much..even tried that today, but he ate half a bowl and was no longer hungry..couldn't really taste it. He just can't lose any more weight...6'6" and down to around 180..scarecrow time.
kathi37. I'm a foodie too, so I "feel his pain" at not being able to taste I'll contact Joan for your email address. That's the great thing about this website--there's someone else out there who has had experience with every challenge, and now we can find each other! Thanks for the quick response.
Marilyn, while the senses of smell and taste change over time, the taste of sweet and the taste of strong spice (like Curries or Carribbean flavors) are the last to go usually. So try to punch up the flavors with a lot of spices, not much salt, but very flavorful spices and herbs.
Top foods with jelly or honey, or serve small cakes with the meal. Cooking with fruit is a great way to get in both fiber AND sweet. Any time you cook a fruit (like an apple, peach, banana, etc) it intensifies the sugars in the fruit. So cook chicken with apples, a fruit salsa over chicken or fish, or grilled fruit as a side dish.
Try apple salads with chopped apples, maybe some celery, some dried fruit... blueberries, craisins, etc... chopped nuts. Sprinkle with sugar and just a little lemon juice... and if you want a little creamier dressing, add a tablespoon of whipped cream.
Another thing that can help is to cook with color. Use a lot of red, yellow, orange or green peppers, sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes (and it adds sweetness, too) grapes, carrots, tomatoes, spinach... lots of contrasting pretty colors.
If you grill for the summer, it's really easy to slice a pear or an apple to toss on the grill... or a sweet potato. Also colorful peppers become pretty sweet when you grill them. Just toss them in a plastic bag with a little olive oil and some herbs, shake well and take the veggies out and place them on the grill.
Sunshyne, you are right on - as usual! Several months ago my DH began saying nothing had any taste to it. He started adding honey, mustard, cheese, most anything to whatever I cooked. So, I started cooking a little differently - as you suggested. Now, mostly no problem. He never has liked spicey foods, however, and still doesn't (bothers his stomach). So I have to be creative!
Sunshyne, I want to come eat at your house! My senses of taste and smell are still fine, but I'll admit to being partial to sweets and spices, and your suggestions of things to do on the grill make me want to go out and fire ours up right now!
Sunshyne, I would just be trading paradise for heaven -- it's also beautiful barefoot weather here in east-central Florida. Actually, I DID spend one winter in and out of San Diego sixty years ago -- aboard a destroyer based there -- but most of my experiences would have been at downtown honky tonks close to Fleet or Broadway landings where water taxis would drop us off.
Marilyn so good to read your comments , My DW has been saying for months that nothing tasted right . I had no idea that it was connected to AD . This another thing great about this site . I will start cooking things a little more spicy for her . I notice lately she has a craving for sweets , (Candy) . Is this also something abut this thing ?? One thing we do is play Games , We are on RummyQue now . That seems to help her ,but still have to help her with the rules but it keeps us active . She also plays some games on Computer . Thanks to all of you
Ribbit, yes, almost every AD patient craves sweets at some point in this journey. In the earlier stages, we try to look for healthy foods that satisfy the craving ... in the later stages, bribery with ANY sort of sweet foods may be the only way to get our loved ones to eat.
Good sugggestions, all. I particularly like the idea of adding fruit to entrees--Steve has never been a fruit lover, but this would benefit him and maybe add some taste. Cooking has been something I've cut back on--trying to use mostly healthy prepared foods to save time and energy. But no reason I couldn't doctor them up. Interestingly, he has never liked hot, spicy foods and still doesn't. We shop at Trader Joe's a lot, where they give samples, and he has quite a reaction when the sample is too spicy! Still loves his vodka--I cut it 50/50 with water--he can't tell. When we run out of vodka, I substitute any clear liquor we have in the house-no reaction. I think he still likes to drink out of habit, and it does mellow him out. His Dr. says moderate drinking is fine. I agree with Divvi--the flirting is cute!
<<Sunshyne, sounds like someone has a long distance 'admirer' here...hehehehehehe....awwww... >>
<<I agree with Divvi--the flirting is cute! >>
BLUSH.... caught in the act.... but it DOES beat posting about pee patrols (12 escorted trips to the potty between 4 pm and 7 pm yesterday) and stuff like that, doesn't it?
You bet. Reporting in on good results. Steve asked for lunch--made him a cinnamon raisin bagel with smoked honey ham, honey mustard, and added sliced apple per Sunshyne. Looked so good, I also made one for myself. (Normally it would have been the ham and mustard on multi grain bread.) He noticed something was different and asked "What is this I'm eating?" Told him I had been on a cooking wesite and wanted to try it--he said "It tastes good!" Success!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm have to dream up something new for dinner. Thanks so much.
Gourdchipper and Sunshyne, thank you for the smiles! Sunshyne, I love your cooking tips! Thank you!
My husband has refused to eat chicken in any form since we were married 47 years ago. He said he had to eat fried chicken at his grandmother's every Sunday after Church, and wasn't going to eat it again as long as he lived. I tried two or three times to disguise it in dishes (chicken spaghetti, crepes, etc.) over the years, and as long as none of the kids smiled, I got away with it. NOW, we have chicken two or three times a week, and HE EATS IT!!!! We (my grandson, daughter and I)are so happy that we can make chicken dishes now. He taste buds are either dead or dying, apparently. But cooking is a lot simpler.
We were eating at a restaurant the other day and somehow the conversation turned to the sense of smell. I mentioned to my DS that one of tests at the first neurologist visit was to see if DH could identify the smell of coffee in a generic container. (He had no problem). DS didn't doubt it, but DH felt he had to prove it. He asked a server to pour him a little bit of coffee (he was drinking tea), he sniffed it, and said, yes, it is coffee!
My DS started to point out to DH that this was hardly a "test", but of course realized the futility.
In the last month, DH has been eating salsa and chips a few times every day. This is not something he had eaten at home before. After a few weeks of that, he tried some catalina salad dressing on his potato skin-flavored chips. When that bottle was empty, he tried Caesar salad dressing (totaling covering the chips). Does this sound like his taste buds are changing?
I read on one site where at some point, a family member discovered their LO would eat anything if they put maple syrup on the food.
I think there sense of taste changes and I guess that would mean smell also. My Mother stopped eating some foods that were favorites of her for years and then suddenly she didn't want them. DH hasn't changed his food habits yet.
I had a friend who, after Chemo he could no longer taste food. He did not eat any sweets and preferred hot and spicy foods. He said everything tasted about the same.
I read many years ago, That lose of smell and taste are the first signs of AD. When I first met my DH (24yrs ago) he had neither. He poured hot pepper flakes on everything. 10 years ago his memory loss began to be noticable. Of course the loss has progressed from there. His son is worried because he is loosing his sense of smell.