My friend eats all day long and in the night too. I'm not concerned about weight gain as he's had serious physical illness and lost 4 stone but he hasn't yet been diagnosed with dementia so I am writing a list of his symptoms and wondered if this is one?
Doesn't mean you have 1 or 2.
Aside from that sugar addiction is real. It leaves you wanting more. The body isn't satisfied, doesn't have what it needs so sends out messages to eat. It takes a few days to get off of artificial sweetners, soda and starches and sugar and gluten and excess salt and alcohol and processed foods ( full of salt and sugar). But if you add healthy fats and lots of veggies and fruit, eggs ( unless allergic) seeds and nuts, you can break the cycle and curb the constant craving for the addiction. Try this on yourself first and you will be empowered to try it on your elder. Add a walk and you'll be feeling great. I think overeating is a symptom of the Standard American Diet. No dementia required.
I asked him if he's depressed but he is adamant he's not. He forgets he's eaten dinner, still gets his own meals and one night he had dinner then an hour later made another dinner and said it was the first. He gets AM and PM muddled, came back from the toilet one day and asked me what I was doing up at this time of the morning. It was 3.45pm. His whole personality has changed, he's impossible to reason with and quickly becomes aggressive. He fails to retain most of what I say, no longer reads books he used to spend hours reading, he severely self neglects, has gone 2 months without a shower or clothes change but believes he showers daily as he always used to do. He refuses to see a doctor so I've written all these and more on a list to show our doctor.
My aunt always says she's not hungry at meal time, but we tell her it's ready, and we'd like her to join us at the table, even if it is just for coffee. Then she scoffs down a meal. She also eats lots of sweets. I believe she can no longer tell if she is hungry, or remember if she has recently eaten anything.
But I do agree that overeating and dementia go together, especially sweet stuff. I have had two clients lose large amounts of weight in a relatively short period. Also if the person had OCD tendencies earlier in life, then eating can be viewed as a replacement for other compulsive behaviors.
The mere mention of 'ice cream" can distract persons with dementia when they acting in a distressing manner.
I wish neuroscience would better explain this behavior, as it is pretty common.
As he approaches his 99th birthday, with limited sight, hearing & mobility, he is easily bored during the times he is awake. Other than gaining a few pounds after he returned from hospital stays where he lost significant weight from IVs and limited food selections he liked, his weight stays stable. I watch it for signs of cardiac problems/water retention. He plays computer gains, but acknowledges his thinking speed has slowed in recent months.
He no longer drives, no more fishing, no more working in his shop....but he can go in the fridge and get an apple, peel it, cut it up and eat it. He can pour himself a cup of coffee and get a bowl of ice cream. He's had up to 7-8 bowls of ice cream in one evening thinking each one is his first. What the heck...I just let him eat. And no, he doesn't gain weight. So the weight gain control must have something to do with the diagnosis.
I think when they are stripped of so much, have terrible confusion and can't just sit all day, they will find something they can do without help from others. And in most cases they can still eat!
Hope this helps...
But remember, as with all addicts, nothing will work until he is ready.
At the same time, if he is eating so much without gaining weight, then something is going on. Doctor, as you have already said.
Good luck!