Mom with dementia had to stay in hospital for her own safety — then her son changed her diet and it worked like a 'miracle'

Our body and brain work brilliantly in unfathomable ways. The science behind it is something genius, due to which sometimes, even simple tweaks to lifestyle can greatly benefit us. In 2018, Mark Hatzer’s mum, Sylvia, suffered from severe dementia, due to which she had to be kept in the hospital, per the Manchester Evening News. When hope seemed bleak, he tried something simple for his mother’s condition — he made a few changes to her diet. Over time, he was baffled to learn of the difference it made for his mum. Mark lost his dad after a heart attack in 1987. He discovered his mom’s forgetfulness and other symptoms three years ago and feared that he would lose her too.

Over time, her condition started getting more worrisome. The then-82-year-old Sylvia suffered a seizure and a fall and was rushed to the North Manchester General Hospital. Her dementia was progressing to a point where she was unable to recognize her own son. Also, she reportedly called the cops on the nurses caring for her and accused them of kidnapping her. When his mum couldn’t recognize him, Mark thought he had reached the “lowest point” of his life. He recalled, “When my mum was in hospital, she thought it was a hotel - but the worst one she had ever been in.” He added that after the tragic passing of his brother and dad, it was only he and his mum who had each other.

“It was just me and my mum so for her to not know who I was was devastating. We were a double act that went everywhere together. I despaired and never felt so alone as I had no other family to turn to,” he noted. The medics asked Sylvia to be sectioned after the incident, and only two months later, she was discharged from the hospital. Mark wanted to do more than provide medicine and get treatment done for his mother. To help in his own way, he started making small, steady changes to his mum’s diet. It started with simple foods like blueberries and walnuts.

“Everyone knows about fish, but there are also blueberries, strawberries, Brazil nuts and walnuts — these are shaped like a brain to give us a sign that they are good for the brain,” Mark mentioned. Even items like broccoli, kale and spinach, sunflower seeds, green tea, oats, sweet potatoes and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content were added to Sylvia’s diet. Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon, shared that blueberries and walnuts together are a “powerhouse” for brain health, per The Mirror. In a video on Instagram, he explained, “If you snack on blueberries and walnuts together, then the polyphenols from the blueberries combine with the Omega-3s of the walnuts to become a brain protection powerhouse.”

According to Surrey Live, leafy vegetables, certain nuts, berries, tea and coffee can help with brain health. Mark tried quite a few, and they worked miraculously. Additionally, he also practiced cognitive exercises such as jigsaws and crosswords, among others, with his mum. He was surprised at the results. “It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but after a couple of months, she began remembering things like birthdays and was becoming her old self again, more alert, more engaged,” he remarked. The Alzheimer's Society is impressed by Sylvia's recovery and is promoting the diet for patients. Sue Clarke, from the Alzheimer’s Society, noted, “There is currently no cure or way of preventing the progression of the condition, but regular gentle exercise, a healthy diet and cognitive exercises can help someone with dementia manage their condition more effectively.” 

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