Forgetting your belongings, losing your memory, or not remembering your loved ones are known signs that can indicate degeneration. But according to an article from HuffPost UK, another sign that we rarely think about could be revealed right in the kitchen.
In Europe, more than 1.2 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and more than 200,000 new cases or another form of dementia are diagnosed each year. A decline that we can perceive through already known signs, such as forgetting recent events, misplacing things, getting lost or even having difficulty finding words or following a conversation. But according to several British medical sources revealed by the HuffPost UKeveryday behavior in the kitchen could be indicative of incipient dementia or, at least, invite us to consult.
When the person has difficulty following a recipe
Thus, concentration problems and difficulty organizing without losing track, common in the early stages of dementia, could reveal themselves in the guise of a simple cooking recipe. Although the person has been familiar with the recipes they have been offering for a long time, they find it difficult to follow or understand a written recipe, or to make it in the correct order.
Movements become less certain
Dr. Richard Restak, neurologist and neuropsychiatrist, also speaks on the subject of another associated sign, in his work “How to prevent dementia. That of apraxia, that is to say the inability to perform usual movements despite having retained motor capacity, due to brain problems. In the kitchen, this could therefore result in difficulty beating eggs, sifting flour, or carrying out certain simple tasks due to coordination problems.
Diagnose as early as possible to slow down progression
Seeing your grandmother or your wife no longer able to make your culinary specialty must therefore be a sign of vigilance. A visit to your doctor will allow you to carry out an assessment and diagnose possible dementia early. An important step: while there is still no cure for dementia to date, there are ways to slow it down or preserve mental functions for longer.
“A diagnosis can also help people with dementia get the right information and support, and help their loved ones prepare and plan for their future” recalls Alzheimer’s UK.
