A HIGH-tech spoon is being developed to help combat eating and drinking difficulties in people with dementia.
Known as the ‘Tasty Spoon’, the device uses electrostimulation to enhance the flavour of foods for patients experiencing a loss of taste.
The University of SheffieldThe ‘Tasty Spoon’ could help enhance the flavour of food in people with dementia[/caption]
The University of SheffieldIt sends gentle electrical currents into the tongue which reactivate the taste buds[/caption]
It works by sending gentle currents into the tongue which reactivate the taste buds.
People with dementia often have issues with eating and drinking due to symptoms like memory loss, not being able to recognise food, and a decreased sense of smell and taste.
This can lead to patients losing weight and muscle strength, and result in malnutrition.
The rechargeable Tasty Spoon looks like a traditional spoon but can help users differentiate between types of food, according to researchers.
Dr Christian Morgner, from the University of Sheffield’s management school and Healthy Lifespan Institute, who is leading the development, said: “A loss of taste can remove the enjoyment of food which impacts patient wellbeing as food plays such a significant role in our lives.
“This is especially prevalent in patients who live alone or in public care homes with more generalised nutrition.
“In a heartfelt disclosure, an individual shared that he only ate toast for the past five years, as to him there’s no difference between toast and a regular Sunday roast.”
Dr Morgner said the Tasty Spoon could also save the NHS money.
“The development of a technological aid like the Tasty Spoon has the potential to rekindle the pleasure of eating for those facing taste-related challenges and therefore contribute to better health as well as mitigating the expense of treating the side effects of poor nutrition for the NHS,” he added.
There are about 944,000 people in the UK with dementia, with one in 11 over the age of 65 suffering from the disease.
According to the NHS, the total could top one million people by 2030.
The Tasty Spoon project has partnered with Alzheimer’s Society’s Accelerator Programme, which is supporting bringing new products to market that help people living with dementia.
Simon Lord, head of innovation at the charity, said: “A healthy, balanced diet can help improve a person’s quality of life.
“However, common symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss and difficulties with thinking and problem-solving, can make it more difficult to eat and drink well.
“That’s why we’re excited about the possibility Tasty Spoon presents in improving the taste and enjoyment of food and subsequently improving the health and nutrition of people living with dementia.
“Innovations like this are vital as they focus on enriching daily experiences and improving health and well-being.
“Tasty Spoon is a unique product, and we cannot wait to help get it into the hands of people living with dementia.”
HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS
Dementia is a disease that refers to the accumulation of specific proteins or other substances in the brain.
These markers often misfold and aggregate, contributing to the loss of a variety of brain functions.
In the case of dementia, scientists typically consider the disease in terms of memory loss.
However, research shows that gustatory dysfunctions occur much earlier and may be among the early symptoms of dementia.
The development of dementia causes a decreasing sensitivity to gustatory, or taste, stimuli in the tongue.
“While there is a loss in the ability to recognise tastes, there is no decline in the ability to detect tastes,” Dr Morgner said.
“The taste buds become inactive, but are still operable.
“A direct external neural stimulation enables that taste sensations can be elicited.
“The Tasty Spoon uses such a direct electrical stimulation of the taste buds, which enables that taste sensations can be generated.”
14 ways to slash your risk of dementia
MAKING small changes to your lifestyle could slash your risk of developing dementia, research suggests.
Avoid spending hours bingeing boxsets as a 2018 study from biomedical database UK Biobank found people who watched more than four hours at a time were 24 per cent more likely to develop dementia, due to it being a “passive activity”.
Activities like doing a crossword can help reduce your chance of dementia by up to nine per cent as they “stimulate the growth of neurons and synapses”, according to researchers from Monash University, Australia.
Research from University College London found meeting new people, and increasing time spent socialising can help delay the onset of the condition, reducing the risk by between 30 and 50 per cent.
High salt consumption has been linked to both heart disease and dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society recommends sticking to a Mediterranean diet, which could reduce dementia risk by 23 per cent.
A UK study, published in 2020 found that being overweight between the ages of 35 and 65 increased the risk of dementia by up to 30 per cent – so shedding some pounds can help bring this down.
Multivitamins that cost as little as 2p could stave off Alzheimer’s, experts at Mass General Brigham in the US found.
Getting it on in the bedroom can help protect against dementia by increasing blood flow to the brain, research in the US shows.
Scientists, whose findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that coffee could help prevent proteins known to cause Alzheimer’s from building up.
One study, published in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, found older adults who did six months of ballroom dancing saw better outcomes than those walking on treadmills when it came to dementia.
Men who take Viagra may have up to a 54 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a study by University College London suggests.
According to Claire Steves, a professor of ageing and health at King’s College London, going for a stroll just a handful of times a week can make a big difference when it comes to your chances of dementia.
A Taiwanese study found that those with chronic gum disease for more than a decade were 1.7 times more likely to be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease – so look after your gnashers.
It’s important to look after your senses. Research published in 2023 found that dual impairment in hearing and vision was associated with a higher risk of dementia.
A lack of sleep can cut your ability to learn new things and take on new information by 40 per cent according to US research. Other studies have found that even one night of sleep deprivation can increase the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.