Alyokhina emphasized that eating habits often change in older people, appetite worsens, but with the development of senile dementia, additional obstacles to eating and drinking may appear.
Due to the fact that dementia affects cognitive functions and gradually deprives people of the ability to think, it often happens that the patient develops dysphagia – difficulty swallowing. For this reason, dementia becomes even more threatening.
If left untreated and left untreated for an older person, this condition can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, life-threatening chest infections, and an increased risk of suffocation.
“Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can occur with dementia and prevent a person from effectively and safely swallowing food and liquids. And if left untreated, dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, life-threatening chest infections and an increased risk of suffocation.
She also explained that dementia affects the area of the brain that controls basic functions, such as swallowing. It manifests itself in the later stages of the disease. As it worsens, it comes to the point that a person can keep food or drink in his mouth for a long time without trying to swallow.
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