Nutrition for Dementia

According to Dr. David Perlmutter, the most important thing to keep the brain functioning at its peak levels is nutrition. Nutrition can have a preventive effect prior to dementia and is also an important consideration for those who already have dementia.

Understanding Dementia

• Dementia is not a specific disease; rather, it is a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Dementia Prevention

• Eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids may help with brain function, reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Eating vegetables may make you less susceptible to dementia. Being overweight or obese can significantly increase your odds of developing dementia

Early Stages of Dementia

• During early stages of dementia, a person may begin to decrease the variety of foods in her diet and may occasionally forget to eat. It's important to make a wide variety of healthy foods available, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish.

Middle Stages of Dementia

• During middle stages of dementia, the person may forget to eat or drink and may not recognize eating utensils or remember how to use them properly. Replicate the environment of the person's eating habits as much as possible, and try to eat meals with the person to encourage him to eat healthy.

Late Stages of Dementia

• In later stages of dementia, the affected person may not recognize food or know what to do with it, and may even forget to chew in some instances. Consult a trained nutritionist with experience working with people with dementia at this stage.