Why dementia makes it so hard to eat — and what caregivers can do

(Aging Untold) — As dementia progresses, eating can become one of the hardest daily tasks. The brain can lose its ability to recognize hunger, identify food or remember how to use a fork. We are breaking down why eating becomes so complicated and what caregivers can do to help. The brain’s signals get disrupted Dementia can disrupt the part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst and appetite signaling — the hypothalamus — Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said. And the process of getting food to the mouth is complex, requiring motor skills and sensory response. “It’s not that they don’t want to eat. They may not know, because now you have mixed signals, or they may have the senses but it’s not working, so it’s a disconnect,” Rogers said. Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck said that disconnect means a loved one isn’t choosing to skip meals. Their brain has changed and we are expecting them to perform as they always have. “Maybe my brain hasn’t told my stomach it’s hungry and it