The new ‘Tasty Spoon’ shocks the tongue to bring taste buds back to life and enhance the flavor of food

A high-tech spoon is being developed to help combat eating and drinking difficulties in people with dementia.

Known as ‘Tasty Spoon’, the device uses electrical stimulation to enhance the flavor of food for patients with loss of taste.

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It works by sending gentle currents to the tongue that reactivate the taste buds.

People with dementia often have problems eating and drinking due to symptoms such as memory loss, inability to recognize food, and decreased sense of smell and taste.

This can cause patients to lose weight and muscle strength and result in malnutrition.

The refillable Tasty Spoon looks like a traditional spoon, but it can help users differentiate between types of food, according to researchers.

Christian Morgner, from the University of Sheffield’s management school and Healthy Lifespan Institute, who is leading the development, said: “The loss of taste can take away the pleasure of food, which affects the patient’s well-being as the Food plays a very significant role in our lives.

“This is especially prevalent in patients who live alone or in public homes with more widespread nutrition.

“In a heartfelt revelation, one individual shared that he has only eaten toast for the last five years as for him there is no difference between toast and a normal Sunday roast.”

Dr Morgner said Tasty Spoon could also save the NHS money.

“The development of a technological aid like Tasty Spoon has the potential to reignite 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 around 944,000 people in the UK with dementia, with one in 11 over 65s suffering from the condition.

According to the NHS, the total could exceed one million people by 2030.

The Tasty Spoon project has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator Program, which is supporting the market introduction of new products 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 that Tasty Spoon presents to improve the taste and enjoyment of food and subsequently improve the health and nutrition of people living with dementia.

“Innovations like this are vital because they focus on enriching everyday experiences and improving health and well-being.

“Tasty Spoon is a unique product and we can’t 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 taste dysfunctions occur much earlier and may be among the first symptoms of dementia.

The development of dementia causes a decrease in sensitivity to taste or taste stimuli on the tongue.

“Although there is a loss in the ability to recognize flavors, there is no decline in the ability to detect flavors,” Dr. Morgner said.

“The taste buds become inactive, but they still work.

“Direct external neural stimulation allows taste sensations to be elicited.

“The Tasty Spoon uses direct electrical stimulation of the taste buds, which allows taste sensations to be generated.”

14 ways to reduce your risk of dementia

MAKING small changes to your lifestyle can reduce your risk of developing dementia, research suggests.

1. Avoid spending hours consuming boxsets, as a 2018 study from biomedical database UK Biobank found that people who watched more than four hours at a time were 24% more likely to develop dementia, as it is a “passive activity”.
2. Activities like doing crossword puzzles can help reduce the chance of dementia by up to nine percent as they “stimulate the growth of neurons and synapses,” according to researchers from Monash University, Australia.
3. To look for from University College London found that meeting new people and increasing time spent socializing can help delay the onset of the disease, reducing the risk by between 30 and 50 percent.
4. High salt consumption has been linked to heart disease and dementia. O Alzheimer’s Society recommends following a Mediterranean diet, which could reduce the risk of dementia by 23 percent.
5. A Study in the UKpublished in 2020, found that being overweight between the ages of 35 and 65 increased the risk of dementia by up to 30 percent – ​​so losing a few pounds could help reduce this risk.
6. Multivitamins that cost just 2 cents can prevent Alzheimer’s disease, experts at Mass General Brigham in the US have found.
7. Doing this in the bedroom could help protect against dementia by increasing blood flow to the brain, US research shows.
8. Scientists, whose findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, discovered that coffee can help prevent the build-up of proteins known to cause Alzheimer’s disease.
9. A study, published in Journal of Aging and Physical Activityfound that older adults who practiced ballroom dancing for six months had better results than those who walked on treadmills when it came to dementia.
10. Men who take Viagra may have up to a 54% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study from University College London suggests.
11. According to Claire Steves, professor of aging and health at King’s College London, going for a walk just a few times a week can make a big difference when it comes to your chances of dementia.
12. 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 take care of your rodents.
13. It’s important to take care of your senses. Research published in 2023 found that dual hearing and vision impairment was associated with a higher risk of dementia.
14. Lack of sleep can reduce your ability to learn new things and acquire new information by 40%, according to the U.S. to look for. 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.

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