I have talked with so many people now caring for someone with AD (and PD) and many have mentioned that this person has a "sweet tooth." I think this could be tied in with the "brain starvation"/"diabetes of the brain" problem that is part of these diseases. My husband Steve used to consume 10-12 pieces of fruit every evening even after a large dinner (this is no longer a problem since consuming coconut oil/MCT oil, presumably because his brain receives ketones as fuel.) My paternal grandfather who developed dementia and died at 89 drank a gallon of beer every evening, which contains a large amount of sugar (the alcohol didn't help!) and my maternal grandmother, who died at 93 with AD, would put 10-12 teaspoons of sugar into her little cup of tea. I spent time speaking with a lady today whose husband craves sweets and she also has a daughter who is alcoholic primarily drinking wine (loaded with sugar.) For others I have talked with it seems to be candy or chocolate. Does anyone else see a connection here?
Iam also interested to hear if your person has AD or PD but does not have a sweet craving. Do they have some other type of food craving or none at all?
Dr. Mary Newport P.S. I posted this on the alz.org website also.
Interesting question. My dh has AD and he definately has a sweet tooth. When he was drinking coffee, he poured the sugar into it. Now he wants ice cream and snickers bars all the time. He hasn't been much of a alcohol drinker but definately sweets.
My husband's doctor told us that the taste for sweets was the last taste to go with AD. He was never one for sweets, but now likes to have sweets after his meal at the home he is in right now. All of the residents in the home always look forward to sweets. I know his taste changed as the AD progressed. Not sure if maybe some foods had more apeal to him than others. Good question!
My Dh locks on to certain foods and has them until you'd think he'd turn into a giant one. For years it was bologna sandwiches with sliced cheese and mustard or horseradish mustard, cold or grilled, at least for lunch and sometimes supper too. Then he quit that for peanutbutter sandwiches plain or with cheese or bananas. Most recenbtly it's been hot sausage patties in sandwiches, with cheese, or with eggs (plainb or with cheese). For about a year it's been Double Stuf Oreos, with an occasional pack of Fig Newtons for a break, and the last few month its been macaroni salad and strudel sticks--at least 3" of mac salad and 3 boxes (18) of strudel sticks a week. Who knows what the next choices will be.
My hubby always in the past drank coffee black with no sugar. About 2 years ago he stated wanting a lot of sugar in it. He also eats a lot of icecream.
My husband has been the same way Darlene. There are certain foods I just cannot be without. It used to be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Now it is honeynut cheerios, pepsi (another sweet and not good for him), and apple juice. God forgive me if I ran out of apple juice.
Interestingly, noticed last night that my husband has not been asking for and raiding the candy jar for chocolate, and demanding his evening vodka or 2. Now that I reflect his yearning for sweets has significantly decreased since he started the coconut oil/mct regimen. Still has a sweet tooth but not to the extent that he had it before.
Before reading this thread chalked it up to the disease. Overall his appetite is not as good as it was and needs to be reminded to drink water.
My DH is still in the early stage but never ate a lot of sweets or desserts. The last few months, however, he wants ice cream after lunch and dinner every day! He has said many things don't have much taste, so he either adds mustard, honey or cheese to whatever I fix for him.
My DW seems to have a craving for sweets, we keep a bag of mini chocolate bars in the drawer of her bedside table at the NF. She eats some after a meal. She also enjoyed a glass of wine when she was still at home.
John also has a sweet tooth. He is also eating things he would never ear prior to FTD. Fish ,green beans, cottage cheese. He was a very picky eater but now dives into anything put in front of him. He is on a purreed diet not because he has swallowing problems but because he eats so fast he aspirates. I've been told it's due to lack of impulse control.
Dr. Newport, I'm not sure the craving for sweets is caused by AD but rather by age. My Dad was almost 100 when he died, did not have AD but pretty much lost his appetite. The Rehab facility he was in said elderly people would eat better if they sprinkled sugar on their food, even things that you don't normally put sugar on. It worked.
I'm just 72 and the caregiver for an AD person and I crave sweets like you wouldn't believe.
My DW, now stage 6/7 has never had a particular appetite for sweets or alcohol, and less so now -- declining wine or beer, which she used to enjoy occasionally, and frequently complaining that things like juices are "too sweet". Her whole appetite seems to have declined, as a matter of fact, with the result that she's lost about ten pounds -- from 125 to 115 -- over the past few months. Maybe coincidentally, or maybe not, that's the same period when she's been taking cinnamon capsules and MCT products.
My dh loves his milky way bar and his coke, never cared for them before, he will eat anything sweet, the nh says he won`t eat his regular food stuff good for him, always asks for a beer when I visit, never a big beer drinker. He has AD
Add one more in. My daughter recently told me that her Dad was eating many more deserts than he used to. It happened so slowly that I wasn't as aware of it, but she is right.
My wife is diabetic (on metformin and glipizide), so we try to restrict sugars. She has no problem with this, but will occasionally pick up a mint or piece of chocolate. I had her on MCT oil for at least 4 months and could not see any difference, except that it gave her diarrhea and caused her to gain weight. She is now heavier than at any time in our 55 years of marriage, even when she was pregnant. I stopped the MCT oil about 3 days ago, and have not noticed any change, except less diarrhea. I tried her on Axona, but it made her develop stomach pains, so I stopped that after 3 doses. I'm now trying to get her on the Less More diet - eat less, exercise more.
We were told that craving sweets is a symptom of FTD. So, I imagine it could be for all other types of dementia as well. When Jim complained one day about his weight, our daughter put it in perspective for him. "If there was ever a time in his life when he should enjoy food and not worry about dieting, it is NOW!"
I agree, Susan. I let my DH eat whatever he wants. Of course, if there is a problem with diabetes or other things, you'd have to be careful. But, I say - whatever makes them happy.!
Interesting, and unusual because my dh eats a lot of sweets , but today he brought in a box of chocolates for me to choose but didn't take any for himself. I asked him about it and he said he has not been craving chocolates as much as he did. Could be the MCT/coconut oil?
Dr Newport -i personally do believe the AD is associated with metabolic functions and or glucose changes. or it could be hormonal ? most of us have seen an increase in sugar intake. my DH never ate sweets in pre-AD life. now he eats donuts, choc bars, icecream, cookies, alot! he had 'induced' pre=diebetic issues with regards to taking zyprexa/seroquel a few yrs ago. levels went up extreme and dr said it was more than likely side effect from either of the 2 meds he was on. and he wasnt on either more than 4mos. after taking DH off both those meds at different times , it took about 8mos for blood glucose levels to stabilize again. now he eats what he wants. it was extremely difficult to curb his sugar intake during those pre diebetic stages. now with so little left of life in latter stages, i say like theothers, what the heck! let him eat what he pleases. hes a happy camper.. my best, divvi
my husband had FTD also and never cared too much for chocolate but now he will eat all you will give him and he doesn't care what form it is in, candy, cake, pudding, whatever.
Yes, I just brought my husband home after a year and a half of not being here....and I KNOW a year and a half of sobriety.....and one of the first things he asked me was if there were any scotch or bourbon in the house....got very angry that I wouldn't go buy him anything.
Hubby was never a sweet eater but always loved reeces candy. Since Ad, he had cravings for certain foods- choc. chip cookies. chocolate covered donuts and McD's double cheesburgers with a decaf diet coke. His cravings came and went along with his eating food. Nothing tasted right but before AD, he would eat anything put in front of him. He now is eating anything put in front of him-except the disgusting cream of broccoli soup he had yesterday. Cravings seemed to end when he got too bad to complain. Don't really see a big crave for anything but if I put it in his mouth, he would eat it. Gave up booze before dz w/AD.
Craves sweets and has no sense of how much to eat/he has eaten. I used to put out bag of Oreos and they would last a week or so. I found out about this issue when I put out a bag, and came home from work to find it gone. Now I put sweets in the freezer. He can't find anything in my chest-type freezer. Then get out a 'serving' at a time.