Supporting someone with young-onset dementia can make daily activities like shopping, cooking, and eating more challenging. You may be feeding a family and then your person with young-onset dementia may develop changes in appetite, taste, or smell. These changes can also lead to unintentional weight loss or gain. Supporting healthy eating helps both your loved one and you maintain strength, energy, and good mental health.
Common changes in eating for people with dementia carers have told us about include:
- Loss of flavour or tastiness – food may taste bland or be less interesting
- Especially for people with frontotemporal dementia, there might be cravings for sweet or highly flavoured foods
- Others may lose interest in meals or forget to eat
- Medications can also affect appetite and taste
If you have concerns about nutrition or changes in weight, talk to your GP. A dietitian can provide personalised guidance. Dementia Support Australia and the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration also provide practical strategies to support appetite and eating. Medications may sometimes be needed.
Tips to make eating easier and more enjoyable:
- Make it social – meals with a friend, family member, or housemate can boost appetite and social connection
- Use home delivery when shopping is difficult – many supermarkets and local stores deliver
- Try meal kits or prepared ingredients – services that provide pre-portioned ingredients or salad and veg kits can reduce effort while keeping meals fresh
- Cook once, eat twice – prepare extra portions to freeze for later
- Accept help – family or friends can cook extra servings to share with you
- Keep healthy snacks handy – such as yoghurt, fruit, nuts, cheese, or wholegrain crackers
- Encourage involvement – helping to prepare meals (e.g., choosing recipes, chopping, setting the table) can build confidence and stimulate appetite.
- Support healthy habits gradually – small changes are easier to make than sudden big shifts
Research suggests that certain diets may support brain health. While there’s no proof they can change the course of dementia, they are nutritious and practical to follow.
The Mediterranean diet features:
- lots of colourful vegetables and fruits
- pulses and nuts
- whole grains
- fish and seafood
- olive oil, and
- limited amounts of red meat and dairy.
The MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay):
- Emphasises eating lots of leafy greens, berries, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and olive oil
- Limits butter, cheese, red meats, fried foods, and sweets
You don’t need to follow recipes exactly – just include these foods in meals and snacks wherever possible. The goal is nutritious a healthy, colourful, and tasty diet which is rich in nutrients. Read our stories on ‘Cooking up a storm’, “a healthy diet for hearts and minds’ and ‘Berry good news for brain health’ for more information and tips on supporting brain health though food.
Nutrition support
There are nutritional drinks under investigation to reduce symptoms of early dementia. Marketed as Souvenaid in Australia, and available in pharmacies, supermarkets and online, there is some evidence they may help slow progression in early Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Current Australian Dementia Guidelines recommend that Souvenaid not be used for people with moderate or severe dementia.
If you are at all concerned about your nutrition – or the nutrition of the person you support, ask your GP to check levels of key vitamins and various blood markers for nutrition. If required, your GP can refer you to a dietitian for specific advice. Dietitians can also advise on particular issues that may affect eating, including poor teeth or dry mouth, as well as a healthy diet if people have other chronic health conditions.
Drink less alcohol
Drinking alcohol, especially heavy drinking may accelerate deterioration in people with dementia. Heavy drinking is defined as more than seven standard drinks a week for women, or more than 14 drinks a week for men. Do not have more than two standard drinks per day and aim for at least two alcohol-free days each week. Consider trying non-or low-alcoholic beverages or substituting with juices like cranberry juice. Again, a dietitian can help provide advice for your situation.
Drink more water
It’s easy to forget to drink, and the ability to sense thirst decreases with age. What’s more, research suggests that peoples’ ability to think clearly decreases when they are dehydrated. Stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water every day and drink more water on hot days, especially during heatwaves.
Make it part of your routine to have a glass of water with every meal, and in between meals too. To prompt drinking more water, some people fill a jug each morning and leave on the kitchen bench to prompt them to drink water during the day. Water is the healthiest choice, but tea, milk, juice or soup can also help you stay hydrated.
Eat and drink well
- Try to eat more fresh, healthy food which includes lots of vegetables.
- Try to eat less processed food.
- Drink less alcohol.
- Drink more water.
You may enjoy to download this booklet ‘Cooking our way, a cookbook by and for people with dementia’
Read our story on A healthy diet for hearts and minds
Photo: Anna Pelzer via Unsplash.
