HYPERPHAGIA IN DEMENTIA .2. FOOD CHOICES AND THEIR MACRONUTRIENT CONTENTS IN HYPERPHAGIA, DEMENTIA AND AGING

Up to one third of dementia sufferers eat an increased quantity of foo d compared with their premorbid intake, at some stage during the demen tia. In addition, over half of people with dementia are reported, by t heir carers, to show a marked change in food choice, particularly an i ncreased liking for sweet food. The macronutrient content of foods cho sen and the ratio of sweet to savoury foods were investigated experime ntally using a standardized mixed meal. Three subject groups were stud ied: 17 people with dementia who were reported by their carers to over eat and who ate excessively under experimental conditions; 14 people w ith dementia who ate a normal amount; and, normal, non-demented contro ls (18 under 50 years old and 14 over 50 years old). The results showe d that the normal elderly people chose a lower proportion of high-prot ein food than the young. The proportion of protein eaten was lower in people with dementia than in age-matched controls and was even lower i n the hyperphagic dementia group. The proportion of sweet food eaten w as higher in people with dementia and even higher in people with demen tia who were hyperphagic. Various mechanisms to account for the result s are discussed. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.