The Dementia Signs You May Notice While Cooking ...Saudi Arabia

By now, you know that the biggest hallmark of Alzheimer's and dementia is memory loss, with other symptoms like difficulty with language (and at times full-on aphasia) or disorientation making life incredibly difficult for patients and their caregivers.

However, two more subtle signs of cognitive decline may present itself earlier than those do—and you'll notice them in the kitchen.

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If you find yourself missing steps in your favorite regular recipes or being more disorganized than usual while preparing dishes, pay attention. A red flag for some dementia patients is difficulty cooking or baking, even when it's something simple or a meal they've made a million times before.

According to Alzheimer's Society, frequent kitchen mishaps, like trying to cook pasta without boiling water first or using sugar instead of salt in a recipe you've made regularly, may be a sign of cognitive decline. Johns Hopkins Medicine also notes that some early signs of dementia, Alzheimer's and cognitive decline include difficulty following your favorite recipes, as well as difficulty solving basic problems, like taking care of bills or household tasks.

(It's important to note that if you've simply never been the best cook or baker, or if you have outside distractions—be they stress, kids running around the kitchen, the TV on or your phone blowing up—that are taking your attention away from your kitchen tasks, you may not have as much reason to worry!)

Another sign of dementia that may present while you're cooking is a decreased sense of smell. Neurologists previously told Parade that cognitive decline can impact olfactory function, which means you'll have more difficulty smelling things than you used to—so if you're accustomed to the smell of your Sunday sauce or chocolate chip cookies wafting through the house and can't get a whiff even if you made the recipes correctly, it's another sign you may want to discuss with your doctor.

Related: The Alzheimer's-Fighting Ingredients You Probably Have In Your Kitchen Right Now

How to Cook Safely and More Easily If You Have Dementia

Depending on the state of one's cognitive health, cooking may or may not be safe. Be sure to have a conversation with your doctor before taking any of the following steps, because everyone's cases are different! That said, the National Council of Dementia Minds recommends the following steps (and then some!) to make food prep easier for patients experiencing cognitive decline.

Keeping the kitchen organized so ingredients and tools are easy to find is a great way to free up some mental energy. That said, how you do that will vary based on preferences and needs.

Some people may also see benefit in removing cabinet doors so they can see everything easily, while others might find that visually overwhelming. Figure out what works for you or your loved one. (Sometimes, it can mean having a photo, list or picture on the cabinet door of what's inside.)It may be beneficial to store fewer items in each cabinet or drawer so that all of the contents are more easily visible.Store items with the labels facing up or out so that it's quicker and easier to find specifically what you need at any given time.Keeping counters clear can be helpful in staying on task and focused.If possible, using high-contrast colors for cabinets in relation to the floors and countertop can make finding and storing items easier for patients with cognitive decline.

Related: Following This Type of Eating Plan Could Lower Dementia Risk—and It's Not the Mediterranean Diet

Make sure your kitchen is well-lit.

Good lighting can be a game-changer in terms of successful food prep, from making it easier to read labels to better being able to see when food is browning. Additionally, keeping your oven light on when baking or broiling can help you remember that you have food in there.

Use one timer at a time per task to avoid overwhelm or confusion.

Eliminate distractions in the kitchen.

Silence your phone, turn off the TV and request others not interfere unless asked (or if there's an emergency).

Related: Eating This Superfood Just Once a Week May Lower Your Risk of Dementia and Cancer

If you have a door to your kitchen, put up a sign that says you're cooking. This serves as a reminder to you and others.

Use appliances with automatic start and stop functions.

Think Instant Pots, air fryers, slow cookers, etc.

Label knobs or use childproof knobs to avoid accidentally turning on ones you don't need. Disable burners you're not using.

Related: 11 Best Foods for Your Brain

Use trivets and potholders.

This will keep you from burning yourself or scorching countertops. Leaving these in plain sight near the stove or oven can be helpful.

Keep them simple and handy.

Write out recipes before cooking.

Copy down the recipes from your recipe cards and cross off each step as you complete it. This will help ensure you don't skip a step or repeat any.

Related: This Eating Habit Is One of the Earliest Signs of Alzheimer's, According to a Neurologist

Pre-measure your ingredients and line them up in order of use before you begin cooking or baking. Put each ingredient away after using.

Meal prep and batch cook.

Meal prepping and cooking big batches of your favorite meals to freeze and reheat can ease your stress later and make it easier to enjoy your favorite foods with minimal effort and cleanup required.

Making lists helps you ensure you get all the good ingredients you need for your favorite foods.

Embrace the microwave.

Microwaveable ingredients, meals and snacks are great when you don't feel like cooking or thinking!

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Related: The #1 Food to Eat to Support Your Memory, According to Brain Health Experts

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