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?
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.
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.