WHETHER it’s an indulgent chocolate bar or greasy chips, everyone gets food cravings sometimes.
But changes in food shopping patterns could be a sign of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
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This form of dementia affects sufferers’ personality, behaviour, and ability to use language.
Dementia mostly affects people over 65, but FTD tends to start at a younger age – with most cases diagnosed in those aged 45-64.
Diehard star, Bruce Willis, is known to be battling the disease, which reports suggest have left him with major speech issues.
It’s estimated that about 31,000 people in the UK live with FTD.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, people with the condition may crave and buy more sweet foods, like chocolate or cakes.
Scientists say there are several reasons why people with the disease could feel like they need more sugar in their diet.
Some people with dementia experience a loss of taste and smell, which makes food less tasty.
And they may start craving sweet foods and intense flavours to make up for the loss.
Others may also have anxiety or depression, and eating sweets boosts feel-good chemicals for a short time.
Unfortunately FTD cannot be cured, but it can be managed, especially if it is caught early on.
People with the disease can have speech therapy and glasses or hearing aids to help combat sensory issues.
It is a progressive disease and the life expectancy of a sufferer is between two and ten years.
This is usually due to the general failure of the body’s systems rather than the disease itself.
Sugar dangers
To make matters worse, sugar is believed to increase the risk of dementia.
Adding just over two teaspoons of sugar to your daily tea or coffee could increase your risk of inflammation in the brain, which could trigger dementia.
In fact, having lots of sugar in any form, including fruit juice, cakes, and chocolate, makes people 54 per cent more likely to develop the condition, a US study found.
Should I be concerned?
If you feel like chucking some Ben and Jerry’s into the trolley every so often, this isn’t a cause for concern.
But it’s important to look out for other telling signs that there’s a bigger problem, one of which you can also spot while shopping.
Experiencing difficulty with numbers while handling money in shops can be a warning sign, the NHS says.
This occurs as the condition begins to damage the brain.
Other FTD signs include:
1. Personality and behaviour changes
These include acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or a loss of motivation.
2. Language problems
People with the disease may speak slowly, struggle to make the right sounds when saying a word, get words in the wrong order, or use words incorrectly.
3. Problems with mental abilities
Sufferers may get distracted easily and also struggle with planning and organisation.
4. Memory problems
In patients with FTD, memory issues tend to occur later on, unlike more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Physical issues
There may also be physical problems, such as slow or stiff movements, loss of bladder or bowel control (usually not until later on), muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing.