Why Do Late Stage Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients Tend to Stop Eating?

It is common for individuals with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, to experience a loss of appetite. Learn why dementia patients have difficulty eating so they can receive better care.

By Alex Orlando
Dec 9, 2019 6:00 PMAug 23, 2023 1:50 PM
Two older adults eating together outside
(Credit: Halfpoint/Shutterstock)

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Alzheimer’s disease exacts a heavy toll. The irreversible, progressive brain disease, the most common cause of dementia, slowly robs people of their memory and thinking skills.

And in the later stages of the disease, it can cause patients to lose interest in food —or render them unable to feed themselves altogether.

Why Do Dementia Patients Stop Eating?

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