Brain Health Carer Considerations

WHAT CARERS CAN DO TO MAKE DRINKING, EATING & NOURISHING

THAT LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEIR CHARGE

Most of these blog posts have alluded to what we can do for ourselves to risk-avoid cognitive decline and Dementia.  However, what is often overlooked is when a person already has Dementia, and in these situations there is often a team of care-giving professionals looking after them round the clock, day-in and day-out.

Statistically, Carers can be up to six times more likely to develop cognitive decline and Dementia.  This is a travesty, but as we know can be the result of a multitude of factors, (not just genetics, which are only a small part of the picture despite being given credit for a much larger role … they are not … at most, a genetic predisposition is less than 5% but more likely 1% of a determining factor, so there are other dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors at play).  And as the vast majority of Carers know, it is an often thankless and is certainly a massively under-appreciated role.  So here are a few complimentary Nutritional Therapy tips to make your life as a Carer a little bit easier simultaneous to complementing the person you are caring for:

• Place colourful cutlery i.e. cups and bowls around the house as prompts to remind the person to eat and drink, (with written prompt notes attached, if your charge is able to comprehend and follow written words).  People with Dementia are particularly aware of the colour red so write visual reminders in red and use red cups, bowls, even toilet seats.

• Swap plastic cooking utensils and chopping boards for stainless steel utensils and wooden chopping boards because microplastics are increasingly & cumulatively building up in the human Gut and Brain.

• Puree or make a smoothie from as much food as possible in order to minimise choking.  To retain the person’s dignity, keep their pre-Dementia preferences in mind and base the nourishment around this;

  o were they a sweet or savoury person, do they have any allergies or intolerances to certain foods?

  o what is their dentition like for their chewing and swallowing capacity?

• Keep food looking real to give them the best chance of recognising it. A lot of fully-comprehending people are nervous of trying ‘new foods’ and this feeling may be exacerbated in Alzheimer’s Dementia, so to encourage your charge to eat see if it is possible to puree dark green leafy vegetables then sculpt the content into recognisable peas or broccoli shapes on the plate.

• If the person is literate, write reminders and/or a Daily Planner in a red colour and have them within easy and immediate access such as a chalk board or a whiteboard on a table or securely hanging on a wall.  (Then hide the chalk &/or pens.)  This may help with circadian rhythm (wake/sleep) management, and acts as a habit/routine-forming reminder to eat, drink, sleep, use the toilet etc.

• Remove as many household hazards; sharp objects, plants, household chemicals, (scented) candles / air fresheners (a recognised Dementogen), and trip hazards (cables/wires/sharp-edged objects), and relocate them out of sight & reach to avoid accidental eating or injury.

• Label rooms in a red colour – Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Front Door, (the latter with a note to only use when accompanied).

At the end of the day, until a personalised programme in undertaken to sculpt your own health nuances, every person’s risk of cognitive decline will be guesstimated or dismissed as ‘bad luck’.  But there are real and tangible modifications we can each make in our daily lives (and meals) to risk-avoid developing Dementia.  Is it 100% failsafe; it is not, but if you feel you might be susceptible then why wouldn’t you try your best to risk-avoid?!

As I hope this post has highlighted, this is a highly complex and personalised area contributing to a much bigger picture of systemic health, so if you feel you, a friend of a family member needs bespoke and personalised support please do not hesitate to get in touch.

In the meantime, don’t forget Eat, Drink, Think Nutrition and spare a thought (no pun intended) for your Brain health.  Losing your Brain power can be even more devastating to you and those around you than losing an aspect of your physical health, so why wouldn’t you start to look after your Brain right away since diet and lifestyle modifications actioned NOW could save a lot of distress and heartbreak later in life.

REMEMBER: if you are taking any medications always consult a Registered Nutritional Therapist as well as your Doctor before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes.  This blog post is written for educational purposes only and in reference to ‘food’.  It is NOT advocating taking dietary supplements.  It is very important to please always consult a Registered Nutritional Therapist or your Doctor before introducing any dietary supplements into your health regime as these qualified professionals will be able to offer personalised recommendations.

If sleep, Brain, cognitive and/or memory are issues which you are struggling with and you want to discover the inspiring & sustainable diet & lifestyle programmes offered by Nutritional Therapy, get in touch via the Contact Me page on this website, or directly on info@eatdrinkthinknutrition.co.uk for more information about 1:2:1 Consultations with Eat Drink Think Nutrition®.

REFERENCES:

doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02806.x

https://www.alz.org/news/2025/dementia-caregivers-modifiable-risk-factor-analysis

https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02843.x

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/is-dementia-hereditary

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-risk-factors#genetics

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-072691 

https://memory.ucsf.edu/genetics/familial-alzheimer-disease

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/alzheimers-in-the-family