Latest news with #memoryloss
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
The 6 subtle signs of dementia you can spot at the dinner table – from food icks to a sweet tooth
FORGETTING where you left your keys, struggling to recall names and dates... memory issues tend to be the most common signs of dementia. But evidence of the devastating brain disease can be found in other lesser-known areas of life - shifting a person's behaviour in subtle ways. "A person's eating or drinking habits may change when they have dementia," Angelo Makri, senior knowledge officer for wellbeing at Alzheimer's Society, tells Sun Health. "They could experience changes in how much food they eat and when and what food they prefer." Your loved one might reach for foods you remember them disliking, or put together some unusual flavour combinations. "It is not fully understood why people with dementia will change food preferences," Angelo says. "We know that dementia affects the ability to smell, which in turn will affect the ability to taste, and this appears to be caused by damage to smell receptors. Changes in behaviour "The person may then want to eat foods with stronger flavours as they are more able to taste them than milder, more subtly flavoured foods." Common symptoms of dementia - such as memory loss and difficulties with thinking and problem solving - can also change people's behaviour at the dinner table. Some may lose interest in meals and want to eat less, while others may veer in the other direction - overeating because they've forgotten they've already eaten or because they seem concerned about when the next meal is coming. These changes to food habits and preference can affect people at different stages of their diagnosis. "In terms of when this might happen, it is very difficult to say as the symptoms of dementia can vary considerably from one person to another," Angelo explains. The 14 science-backed ways to prevent dementia "Some people will only start to experience these changes as their dementia progresses whereas others may experience changes in taste and smell months or years before they are diagnosed or before they notice any other symptoms." But Angelo notes: "Changes in behaviour aren't always cause for concern, even though it can be upsetting to see your relative do things that are out of character. " Here, we go through six signs of dementia you may notice in a loved one at dinnertime. 1. Sweet cravings As dementia progresses, it can change people's tastes and food preferences, according to Angelo. "They may start to enjoy flavours they never liked before, or dislike foods they always liked," he says. "It's not unusual for the person to begin to want sweet foods more than they used to." 2. Forgetting vegetarianism "Sometimes people with dementia make food choices that don't match their usual beliefs or preferences," Angelo goes on. "For example, a person who has been a lifelong vegetarian may want to eat meat." This can happen because: Their preference has changed They remember eating meat before becoming vegetarian They've forgotten they don't eat meat They see you or someone else eating meat and want the same, without knowing what it is. This can also happen to people who've abstained from specific foods due to religion. "For example, a person who doesn't eat pork, or only eats fish on certain days for religious reasons," Angelo says. 3. Mistaking objects for food "As dementia progresses, a person may put things that aren't food into their mouth, such as napkins or soap," according to Angelo. "There could be several reasons for this. "For example, the person may no longer recognise the item, or they may be hungry and mistake the item for food." 2 4. Eating more than usual Notice your loved one snacking lots more than they used to? "A person's dementia mean that they forget they've already eaten," Angelo says. "Sometimes we eat when we're bored or we need comfort," he points out. "Was there a time in their earlier life when they worried about where their next meal was coming from? "If so, this might make them feel they need to eat as much as possible while they can." 5. Mealtime confusion You might notice your loved one gets confused about when mealtimes are. This can happen if they've had recent changes to their routine or moved home. "This might cause them to overeat, not eat enough as they are not hungry yet, or seek food more often than usual," Angelo says. 6. Struggling to eat As dementia begins to erode at someone's memory and problem solving, the physical act of eating and drinking can become harder - meaning they mat eat less than they used to. "A person with dementia may struggle to recognise the food and drink in front of them," Angelo explains. "Or they may be unsure how to begin eating or using cutlery. Early signs of dementia It's not unusual for your memory to lapse a bit as you get older. But dementia is different from 'just getting old' as it will cause noticeable - rather than gradual - changes to mental abilities and make managing everyday tasks and activities increasingly difficult. The symptoms of dementia may be small to start with, but get worse over time. Below are some examples of possible signs. Memory loss Memory loss is a key sign of dementia. This can include: Forgetting something you were only recently told. You may ask for the same information repeatedly – for example, 'Are the doors locked?' Putting objects in unusual places – for example, putting your house keys in the refrigerator. Being unable to learn new tasks, like how to use a new washing machine. Planning and decision making issues People with dementia can have difficulty with planning and decision making. This can include: Getting very confused when planning or thinking things through. Struggling to stay focused on a single task. Not making informed, careful decisions when dealing with money or looking at risks. Finding it hard to manage regular payments, budgets or monthly bills. Problems with language and understanding In people with dementia, this can manifest as: Having frequent problems finding the right word or regularly referring to objects as 'that thing'. Finding it hard to take part in conversations. Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions. Losing sense of time and place Dementia can cause problems with orientation, including: Losing track of the date, season or the passage of time. Getting lost in a place that is familiar or that should be easy to find your way around – for example, a supermarket. Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions. Problems with vision and perception This can mean having problems making sense of what you see. For example, having difficulty judging distances on stairs, or mistaking reflections or patterns for other objects. Mood and behavioural changes Finally, dementia can also make people act differently or shift their mood. This can mean: Becoming withdrawn and losing interest in work, friends or hobbies. Feeling unusually sad, anxious, frightened or low in confidence. Getting easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places that usually feel comfortable or familiar. Source: Alzheimer's Society "Unfamiliar food or food that looks different to how it normally does can cause difficulties. "Dementia can also cause problems with co-ordination. People with dementia may struggle to pick up or grip items, such as cutlery or a glass. "They may also have trouble putting food into their mouth or they may not open their mouth to take in food and may need reminding to do so." DINNER TWEAKS FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS If you notice your loved one is overeating as a side-effect of their dementia, it could be a good idea to switch out high calorie foods for lower calorie versions. If the person is not eating enough, consider giving them some higher calorie foods - but check in with their GP first to make sure this won't negatively affect their health, Angelo notes. "Speak to the GP before making any major changes to diet – there could be physical or medical reasons causing the changes," he explains. "The GP can also check whether their health is being affected by changes in their eating habits. "For example, whether they're putting on weight or their blood pressure or cholesterol is at an unhealthy level. "It's important to look at whether your relative is drinking enough, as thirst can be mistaken for hunger. "Not having enough water can also lead to headaches, increased confusion, urinary tract infections and constipation." Other ways you could help include: Using herbs and spices, sauces and chutneys to enhance the flavours of a meal. Adding small amounts of syrup, jam or honey to puddings to increase sweetness. Following along with what your loved one wants to eat, even if the food combinations seem unusual. Substituting big meals for more frequent, smaller meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. Switching to finger foods if the person is having trouble using cutlery. Making sure everyone involved in the person's care is aware of their food preferences Putting away non-food items which could be mistaken for food, and locking away any harmful substances like cleaning products. Trying to minimise clutter on the table, for example, by seasoning meals in the kitchen, so that the salt and pepper shakers and spice containers are not on the table. Using meal delivery services to make food preparation easier and make sure meals are nutritious.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
My husband died after accusing me of having an affair – his paranoia and midlife crisis were signs of hidden killer
A DAD who started experiencing memory loss, confusion, and paranoia - suspecting his wife was having an affair - put his symptoms down to poor mental health. But a scan later revealed they were signs of a lethal killer that two years later would sadly take his life. 6 6 6 Andy Hampton, 55, passed away in May this year after being diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma. In May 2023, his increasing paranoia, which involved suspecting his wife Gemma, 37, was having an affair, brain fog and overwhelming sense of depression led to a breakdown and the diagnosis of an infection. But when the symptoms continued the dad-of-four went back to the GP and a scan revealed a mass on his brain the size of a satsuma, and he was initially given three months to live. Gemma, from Sturminster Newton, Dorset, said: "I thought Andy was having a midlife crisis or a mental breakdown. His paranoia caused him to believe things that weren't true. "He even suspected I was having an affair. He kept saying he knew it was all in his head, but he couldn't stop the thoughts." Andy, who worked as a land agent for more than two decades, was misdiagnosed with an infection by his GP. But after he began suffering headaches that made him physically sick, he was referred for a CT scan at Dorset County Hospital. When the mass on his brain was revealed, he was urgently transferred to Southampton General for an MRI. Scans showed the grade 4 glioblastoma - a fast-growing and lethal brain cancer - measured 7.5cm by 8.1cm. Gemma said: "The initial prognosis was devastating, doctors told us that Andy only had three months to live, I was in shock, we were both speechless, they gave us leaflets but Andy didn't want to read them, he just shut down. I was given a week to live after doctors found a decade-old tumour on my brain "In some ways it was a relief to know what we were experiencing wasn't our imagination or a breakdown in our marriage. We were determined to fight it." Andy had 95 per cent of the tumour surgically removed on May 31, 2023, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But he experienced complications following the operation - facial seizures, and a kidney infection. Gemma said: "Recovery had its setbacks, but we were so pleased the surgery went well we felt that the worst was over, and we could somehow get back to normal. "When we got back home Andy had changed. He wasn't the man I married, not because he didn't love us anymore, but because his brain no longer allowed him to show it." But he began to slowly recover and had three monthly scans to monitor his condition. Gemma said: "Everything was ok for a while, then during Christmas 2024 Andy started acting out of character again, every day was different, and we couldn't work out what was wrong." A routine scan in January this year showed the tumour hadn't grown but fluid was building up on his brain, causing his personality changes. He had a second operation in February to fit a shunt to relieve the pressure, but his health continued to decline. Andy had a seizure that lasted three hours and an MRI scan revealed he had a bleed on his brain, two new tumours and blood clots in his lungs. Gemma said: "That is when my whole world crashed, I didn't know what to say or do, I just felt helpless. I was holding it together the best I could to be there for Andy. But I knew I was losing him. "We were naive to think that because they removed most of the tumour Andy would be OK. We were dreadfully wrong." He died on May 6 this year - leaving behind Gemma and their four children - Finn, 26, Alisha, 23, Isabelle, five, and Henley, three. 6 6 6 Gemma said: "Andy was fit, strong, and full of life. We should have been enjoying this chapter of parenthood together. "A glioblastoma doesn't give families time, it steals futures. The government must do more; it is shocking to know that just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002. We need more research, faster diagnoses, and real hope. People like Andy deserve more than a death sentence." Gemma and the children are taking part in the Walk of Hope this year to raise money for Brain Tumour Research and campaign for more funding and earlier diagnoses. Letty Greenfield, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Andy's story is heartbreakingly common. Glioblastoma is one of the most complex and underfunded areas in cancer research. "We urgently need the government to increase investment so we can improve early diagnosis, develop better treatments, and ultimately find a cure. "We're incredibly grateful to Gemma and the Hampton family for sharing their story and continuing to fundraise during such a difficult time." The most common symptoms of a brain tumour More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives. The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis. There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return. Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS. They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision. The nine most common symptoms are: Headaches Seizures Feeling sick Being sick Memory problems Change in personality Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body Vision problems Speech problems If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP. Source: NHS
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
I'm a dementia professor, but the solution to my brain fog surprised me
Aimee Spector, 50, is professor of clinical psychology of ageing and director of the Menopause Mind Lab at University College London (UCL). She has two children of 18 and 20 and lives with her husband, Nick, 52, in Hertfordshire. I'd always prided myself on being a 'names person'. My job as a professor at University College London involves chairing meetings, introducing people, giving lectures and leading teams – I'd remember everyone. But in 2017, aged 42, that changed quite suddenly. I'd recently taken a new consultancy role and was being shown around. Just as I went to introduce a very senior colleague, someone I'd worked with for 15 years and talked to daily, his name just… vanished. Gone. Awkwardly, feeling my face redden, I ended up helplessly pointing at the name on his door. I went home confused, shocked and frightened about what was happening. More mortifying still was only last month, when I was working with the World Health Organisation updating dementia guidelines. During a high-level meeting about HRT and dementia risk, I forgot the word 'oestrogen'. I paused, tried to joke, 'it's my morning brain fog ' and people smiled sympathetically, but I felt paranoid they thought I was losing it. A scary black fog had overtaken me After that first time forgetting my colleague's name and dreading it happening again, I'd walk into meetings feeling panicked about forgetting names, which of course made it even more likely to happen. It wasn't just at work. At home I'd ask my children – then both in their early teens – questions about a party for example. They'd eye-roll, 'Mum, you just asked that and we told you already.' I'd watch a film with my husband, Nick, and have no recollection the next morning. I don't mean I couldn't recall the name of the movie, I couldn't remember the entire storyline, or even the genre. It was like a scary black fog had erased my memories. Another time I drove off with my handbag still on top of the car, scattering its contents over the road. My fear of dementia was real – and informed Until then, I'd been a successful psychologist specialising in dementia research, developing cognitive stimulation therapy, to help people with dementia improve their memory and thinking skills, which is now used across the NHS and in 42 countries worldwide. As my career had been dedicated to studying dementia, my memory loss took on a sinister edge. In my early 40s, mine was now failing me and fearing I had early-onset dementia felt like my whole world unravelling. I told my GP about these frightening memory blanks. She reassured me it probably wasn't dementia, because I was still able to work with numbers efficiently (essential as a scientist) and neither did I get lost in familiar places, or struggle recognising familiar objects. I had no problem dressing or feeding myself or parenting my teens. I never forgot faces. It was just that my ability to recall stories and my verbal skills seemed to be replaced with blackness. The GP never suggested menopause as a possibility, and because I still had regular periods and no hot flushes, it never crossed my mind, either. Back then, brain fog wasn't discussed as a menopause symptom. She and I agreed to keep an eye on it and over the next two years we spoke several times. Blessedly, my symptoms didn't worsen, which would not have been the case with a disease. Talking myself out of a career I spoke to my husband, parents and close friends about my fears. 'Don't worry,' they said. 'You're still functioning at a high level at work – no one else notices.' Classically, with early-stage dementia it's not just the person suffering symptoms who realises it, it's other people who notice it. 'You're fine,' everyone reassured. But inside, I seriously considered quietly leaving my job. I'd tell myself: 'You've had a good career, made a difference. Maybe it's time to slip away before everyone notices you're losing it.' Brain fog destroyed my confidence, my sense of competence and my identity. I've since learnt that around one in 10 women in menopause quit work because they feel embarrassed about their abilities. Even more step back from important meetings (the kind necessary to further careers) or they reduce hours or pass up promotions. Careers women have grafted for, over decades, go up in smoke. It's frustrating to witness yet completely understandable – I was nearly one of them. Finding the real cause It wasn't until 2021, at the age of 47, nearly five years after my first symptoms, when a friend asked me 'could it be hormonal?'. So I paid to see a private menopause specialist. Hormonal blood tests are notoriously unreliable, yet mine indeed showed rock-bottom oestrogen levels, far lower than expected at any point in the menstrual cycle. My progesterone and testosterone were also low and the specialist put me on HRT: oestrogen gel combined with progesterone tablets. Within six weeks, it was as if someone had flicked a light switch in my brain. My memory returned, as did my confidence. Finally I had confirmation my brain fog was hormonal, not degenerative like Alzheimer's. When my health took a step back But just nine months later I had to give it up when, in 2022, I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. I'd found a lump and it was caught early so I needed surgery but no chemotherapy. I didn't blame HRT, I hadn't been on it long enough, and had a strong family history of breast cancer. However, because my cancer was hormone-receptive (meaning oestrogen was feeding the cancer cells) I had to immediately stop using it. That devastated me as much as the diagnosis itself, as I dreaded the return of brain fog. But interestingly, it didn't come back as badly as before, and I believe that's because now I understood it wasn't dementia – that fear had gone and it was easier to manage. Why perimenopause can cause brain fog I wanted to investigate why perimenopause causes these cognitive changes – and what can be done. Especially for women who don't want, or can't take, HRT. I found it helpful to acknowledge what was happening in my brain, understanding that my drop in oestrogen was likely to be affecting the neurotransmitters which affected memory and words. It's this fluctuation of hormones during perimenopause when things like brain fog, or hot flushes or poor sleep, are triggered. The good news is that once the hormones re-stabilise post-menopause, these symptoms go away. Putting my experience to good use After what happened to me I wanted to see what the research said, and discovered there was little out there. That had to change. I wanted other women to feel more supported. So in 2023, alongside my work in dementia, I established UCL's Menopause Mind Lab, a research hub focusing on the impact of menopause on cognition and mental health. I'm proud of what we've achieved so far. But there is more to do. Campaign group Menopause Mandate's survey last year (of nearly 20,000 people) identified brain fog as the single most troubling and prevalent symptom for 76 per cent of women – not hot flushes, which surprised many. That's why we're joining forces for this year's survey; we're determined to find better treatments. This is why this year we want more women – 30,000 – to take part, from as many different backgrounds and ethnicities as possible, including those with no symptoms at all: it's all helpful. These results will inform academic research on menopause and brain health and power lobbying efforts for better workplace policies. We will present our findings to MPs later this year. Currently at UCL we're developing a non-drug-based treatment including attention training, cognitive strategies and CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) to support women who cannot take HRT. The strategies I use to help me At 50 now, I still have regular periods, and I still forget words, but I no longer spiral into panic now I've developed strategies to cope (see below). I want other women to know they're not losing their mind. Brain fog is a manageable symptom of menopause transition. With understanding, support and the right strategies, we can continue to thrive at work and at home. I almost gave up on myself – and I'm so glad I didn't. Please don't lose hope.
WebMD
18-07-2025
- Health
- WebMD
I Keep Losing Things
Does MS cause this, and what can I do about it? I've always had a problem with losing things, but lately it's gotten ridiculous. In the last four months, I've lost wallets, keys, a phone, a treasured kitchen knife, and even a couple of shirts. It's getting to be a major problem, so I have been asking for help, and I've found some really useful ideas. One doesn't have to have multiple sclerosis (MS) to lose things, but it helps. According to the National MS Society (NMSS), at least half of people with MS will experience some kind of unwanted changes in memory or thinking. 'Somewhere between 4 and 7 in every 10 people with MS,' they write, 'will experience some kind of changes in memory or thinking.' You can see how memory loss could make it harder to find things – Where did I put that pen? Where did I leave my car keys? Memory loss often leads to losing things. It happens to people as they age, so a lot of ways to cope with it have been discovered. I will divide them into two categories: losing things in the home and losing them in the outside world. Losing things at home is annoying and time wasting, but at least things usually get found eventually. The best way to prevent it is to have an ordered, uncluttered living space. When I was young, I often heard adults say, 'A place for everything, and everything in its place.' An excellent idea, but what if you have more things than places to put them? Or what if you have so many places that you can't remember what goes where? We might have to simplify our lives to make that work. Have less stuff. Personally, I like living simply; I've never enjoyed having lots of random stuff, but others disagree. The NMSS advises having a set place for essential things – like car keys, or your glasses – and always putting them there. Make the place specific; not just 'on the table by the door,' but 'in the blue bowl on the table by the door.' Then we have to train ourselves to consistently use the chosen space. Making organization a habit is the key. In remembering what goes where, labels are a big adult son recently came over and labeled many of our drawers and shelves with what's supposed to live there, which makes things easier to find. The NMSS suggests keeping important stuff in a place you visit frequently, like in a bag with pockets over the kitchen door. Label the pockets. When we do lose things, stressing out about it makes it and wait, try to visualize where you put the thing, and it may come to you. Sometimes my wife can find things I'm looking for, so I may ask her. And sometimes I can find things for her. I think people we live with may know our habits better than we know them ourselves, so may know where lost things are likely to be. Choosing exact spots for the disappearing things and using them consistently is key. Then you can expand to choosing exact spots for everything, 'from your scarves and belts to your receipts and house bills.' But you have to use the system. Don't cheat because you won't remember tomorrow where you put things today. That happened to me yesterday, and I almost lost another wallet. I have a shopping bag on my scooter where my wallet usually lives. I need to remember to put it back in the bag, but yesterday I bought something at the farmers' market, then moved on to the next booth. I kept the wallet in my lap instead of putting it back in the bag. When I got to the next purchase, the wallet was gone! I was freaked, but another shopper walking behind me had seen it fall out of my lap, picked it up, and returned it to me. Thank God for his honesty, but from now on, I have to be more consistent in putting it back. That gets much easier if I have fewer alternative places. Stop riding around with four or five bags and just have two: one for purchases and one for personal stuff. I also have to be slower and more careful about putting things in bags, because sometimes I think my hand is inside the bag when it's really between bags. Then things drop to the ground without me realizing it. That's how my last wallet got lost. I have to look at where I'm putting things to make sure they're really in there and to help me remember where I put them. Technology can help It's too bad I'm old and haven't grabbed on to the technological fixes younger people are using, but I'm going to start. For example, attaching a Bluetooth tracker to connect your keys or wallet or your glasses to your phone. You can call the wallet or maybe find it with a GPS tracker. Your phone manufacturer probably has a Find My Phone app that will show exactly where your phone is. Check out the manufacturer's website or store. There are also 'out of range finders' that you could put on a purse — or whatever you like — that will call your phone if it gets too far away. These devices are all battery powered and cost between $20 and $50 in most cases.
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Martin Frizell gives sad update on wife Fiona Phillips' dementia diagnosis
Martin Frizell has share a sad update on his wife Fiona Phillips ' dementia diagnosis as he admitted every day is either 'bad or wretched'. Appearing on Newsnight with Victoria Derbyshire on Wednesday (16 July), the former This Morning boss said: 'I used to say good days and bad days, now I just say bad days or wretched days.' Mr Frizell said his wife asked him 72 times where she was going during a 35 minute taxi ride to the doctor. He said: 'It's pretty much most days where her short term memory is shot.'
