Do dementia people forget to eat?

Yes. My mom, who has Alzheimer’s disease, forgets to eat, and then when she has eaten, she forgets that, too. If she has food placed in front of her, she eats it, but once the dishes are cleared away, she does not know she had a meal and does not seem to notice or understand that she is “full.” She eats much better now that she lives in assisted living than she did when she lived independent living. In AL, she and her friends all go to the dining room together for their meals, so she rarely skips one.

Not so much a case of dementia, usually as it is a case of the aging brain.
The drive to take in nutrition and especially fluids will diminish DRAMATICALLY in age. The truth is that the elderly, with little expenditure of calories in exercise and movement, require much less and can sustain life with very little.

Not only does the DESIRE for food diminish, but the ability to swallow deteriorates, also, making food a chore. Smell and taste are diminished.

So this isn't forgetting to eat. This is no desire for food. When you think of it, other than by habit of breakfast, lunch and dinner, few of us eat without hunger of some sort being present.

There are many conditions in life, even before aging process, that diminish the drive to eat. Alcoholism is notorious for it. Alcoholics often quite simply do not eat.

Of course they can forget to eat, just like they've forgotten that they haven't had a shower in weeks, or that they can no longer walk, or to take their medicine, and on and on and on.
Dementia is all about forgetfulness, so it shouldn't surprise you that someone would forget to eat. And perhaps it's because they believe that they've already eaten, or have forgotten how to feed themselves.
So I would try either feeding them yourself or have someone else feed them.
If you go into any memory care facilities dining room you will see many folks needing to be fed by either staff or family members.

Just remember that if they are not suffering, it’s not a bad way to end the ‘end of life’ troubles.

Sometimes as people age, they forget things, with or without dementia. In my career I have seen many people forget how to feed themselves (sometimes they has lost their sense of taste and smell, sometimes they can no longer swallow easily), forget they need to bathe and even forget how to walk.

One of our residents had been a professional dancer. She was non verbal when she came to us but danced and glided along the halls of our secure memory care constantly during the day (some of our visitors just loved sitting and watching her). Our CNAs put her to bed as usual one night and when they went to wake her the next morning she couldn't get out of bed (unusual for her as she was and dancing silently in the mornings. We sent her to the hospital for a full physical exam. They could find nothing wrong with her. Overnight, she'd just forgotten how to walk.

I would have a swallow evaluation done to make sure there are no issues and then you may have to make arrangements for someone to feed them.

I've experienced the exact opposite. My Dad was such a picky eater, if it didn't include chocolate, eggs or meat, he wasn't interested. NOW, 92, dementia, in memory care, eats EVERYTHING they put in front of him. The mind is a funny thing.

At what stage do dementia patients forget to eat?

Regular, nutritious meals may become a challenge for people living in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer's. They may become overwhelmed with too many food choices, forget to eat or think they have already eaten.

Why do dementia patients not want to eat?

They may have problems with their dentures, sore gums or painful teeth. Dental care, oral hygiene and regular mouth checks are important. Tiredness and concentration – tiredness can cause people with dementia to not eat or give up partway through a meal.

Visit this website:

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/poor-appetite-dementia

In part, it says:

How can dementia affect a person's appetite?

A person with dementia may lose interest in food. They may refuse to eat it or may spit it out. The person may become angry or agitated, or behave in a challenging way during mealtimes. 

If a person isn’t eating enough, it can lead to weight loss and less muscle strength. They may feel tired and weak. This can make them frailer and less able to recover from infections or viruses. 

What can cause poor appetite?

Physical difficulties – such as problems with chewing and swallowing or constipation.

Depression – loss of appetite can be a sign of depression. Depression is common in people with dementia. There are effective treatments for depression, including medication and other therapies. If you suspect that the person you are caring for has depression, consult the GP. 

Communication – the person with dementia may have problems communicating that they’re hungry, that they don’t like the food they have been given or that it’s too hot. Or they may be unsure what to do with the food. They may communicate their needs through their behaviour. For example, they may refuse to eat or hold food in their mouth. You could try giving them a choice of food, or using prompts and pictures so they can choose the food they would like. 

Pain – the person may be in pain or discomfort, which can make eating difficult. They may have problems with their dentures, sore gums or painful teeth. Dental care, oral hygiene and regular mouth checks are important. 

Tiredness and concentration – tiredness can cause people with dementia to not eat or give up partway through a meal. It can also lead to other difficulties such as problems with concentration or with co-ordination. People with dementia may have difficulties focusing on a meal all the way through. It’s important to be aware of this and support the person to eat when they are most alert. 

Medication – changes to medication or dosage can result in appetite changes. If you think this may be the case, speak to a pharmacist or the GP.

Physical activity – if the person is not very active during the day, they may not feel hungry. Encouraging them to be active will be good for their wellbeing and may increase their appetite. Equally, if the person is very active or restless – for example, walking about or fidgeting – they may use extra calories and may be hungrier than usual or lose weight more quickly. 

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Gena / Touch Matters

Patients with Alzheimer's will "forget" to eat when the plaques cover the portion of the brain that sends the signal to eat. Without that signal, (similar to when depressed, or having lack of exercise resulting in lethargy) the person is not triggered to eat.

When I first saw my aunt, she was skin and bones. Probably still is now. What I witnessed is that she wouldn't go look for food. Unless there is someone there to prepare her food, she will eat it and eat all of it. She will not seek out food on her own. Her brain doesn't seem to tell her to go eat unless it is right in front of her.

Thank you everyone for your input. We're adjusting and modifying as we must. Mom-in-law is benefitting from the changes. Mahalo for all of your suggestions.