Hyperphagia, fixations on certain types of food and eating inanimate objects could be a sign that you’re at risk of developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD).An uncommon form of the disease, FTD has become more widely known in recent years due to actor Bruce Willis’ diagnosis.Following the Die Hard actor’s retirement from the entertainment industry in 2022, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of the disease which impacts a person’s behaviour and language.While Willis himself now lives outside of the public eye, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, and adult daughters have provided updates on his life and condition.

According to the NHS, it causes a range of symptoms, such as personality and behaviour changes, which could be acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or loss of motivation.
They might develop language problems such as speaking slowly, struggling to make the right sounds when saying a word, getting words in the wrong order, or using words incorrectly.They could have problems with mental abilities, or memory problems, or even physical issues.These things can make it hard to function and complete daily tasks.But experts say that the way a person eats can also be an indicator of the disease, particularly when it lines up with ‘obsessive and repetitive behaviours’ that can occur in those suffering.For example, patients may eat non-food items (PICA), eat only one food, or steal food from others.Of course, PICA – a condition where people will eat non-food items, which might be caused by vitamin deficiencies – in itself, isn’t a sign of dementia.However, if it’s being seen alongside other worrying symptoms, it could be part of the condition.