The Rechargeable Tasty Spoon : 'Miracle' Spoon!
Scientists are working on a cutting-edge utensil that looks like a regular spoon to help people with dementia who struggle to eat and drink. This tool called Tasty Spoon, uses electric stimulation to boost food flavors for patients who have lost their sense of taste. People with dementia often face challenges when it comes to eating and drinking because of symptoms such as forgetting things, not recognizing food, and having a weaker sense of smell and taste. This can cause patients to lose weight and muscle strength. The rechargeable Tasty Spoon looks like a regular spoon but helps users tell different foods apart, researchers say. Dr Christian Morgner, from the University of Sheffield's management school and Healthy Lifespan Institute, leads its creation. He said: "When people can't taste, they don't enjoy food as much. This affects their well-being because food is a big part of our lives. It's a bigger problem for patients who live alone or in care homes with basic meals. "Someone told me he ate toast for five years because to him, toast and a Sunday roast tasted the same." Dr Morgner said the Tasty Spoon could save the NHS money too. He added: "A tool like the Tasty Spoon could help people who can't taste well enjoy eating again. This could improve their health and cut down on NHS costs for treating poor nutrition side effects." About 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, with one in 11 over 65 having the disease. The NHS thinks this number could go up to one million by 2030. New ideas like this are key. They aim to make daily life better and boost health and well-being. (Source: Google Images) Simon Lord, Alzheimer's Society ~ The Tasty Spoon project has teamed up with Alzheimer's Society's Accelerator Programme. This program helps bring new products to market that aid people living with dementia. Simon Lord, who leads innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: "A healthy balanced diet can boost a person's quality of life. "But common dementia symptoms, like forgetting things and struggling to think and solve problems, can make eating and drinking well harder. That's why we're keen on what Tasty Spoon might do to make food taste better and more fun to eat. This could help improve the health and nutrition of people with dementia. Ideas like this matter because they focus on making daily life richer and boosting health and well-being. Tasty Spoon is one-of-a-kind, and we're eager to help get it to people living with dementia."
