Mailbox Response

The question was submitted 13/07/2007

Subject: increased appetite

My mum is 69 and had alzheimers. she is on 10mg aricept daily. She is a well controlled NIDDM, no medications othe than aricept and has always carried extra weight.
She is constantly wanting food. She was like this before the aricept. She just wants to eat and eat. I think sometimes she forgets she has eaten other times she seems very hungry. Is this normal? I feel awful having to say no but she will become even more overweight if I feed her whenever she asks. also she chews all the time is that part of it? thanks

Answer from DementiaNet

Thank you for your question,

Forgetting that you have recently had a meal can occur with Alzheimer's. You then become your mother's memory. Diet is important in diabetes and a dietician may be able to advise on foods that give a feeling of fullness and thus reduce your mother's appetite. If her diabetic control deteriorates medications such as metformin may be helpful as this may reduce her appetite.

Repetitive mouth movements such as chewing can also occur with dementias and this could also possibly be so in your mother's case.

Make sure you talk to your mums doctor about these issues.

The answer was published on DementiaNet 18/07/2007