82-year-old woman with dementia regains memory after making changes to her diet

Nowadays, people are way too busy following strict working schedules and are torn between a bunch of commitments so forgetting things may come as a result of that kind of life. Age can also be the reason for the memory laps some get to experience from time to time. But when it occurs very frequently, maybe it’s about time to pay the doctor a visit. When Mark Hatzer could notice how his mother struggled remembering things, and as the condition became severe, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with dementia.

Unfortunately, it got even worse over time so at one moment Sylvia couldn’t even recognize her own son. 

“When my mum was in hospital she thought it was a hotel — but the worst one she had ever been in,” Mark explained. “She didn’t recognize me and phoned the police as she thought she’d been kidnapped.”

Mark Hatzer. Sylvia Hatzer

Mark felt devastated. He had lost his father back in 1987, and now this illness was taking his mom away from him. 

“We were a double act that went everywhere together,” he said. “I despaired and never felt so alone as I had no other family to turn to. Overnight we went from a happy family to one in crisis.”

However, this devoted son wasn’t about to give up that easily. He did lots of research and decided to fight the dementia with the right foods. 

They learned how the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries are less likely to suffer from dementia because of their eating habits, so Mark created for Sylvia a special diet. 

The foods in the diet are made up of plenty of “brain-boosting” foods, two among them being walnuts and blueberries.

“Everyone knows about fish but there is also blueberries, strawberries, Brazil nuts and walnuts — these are apparently shaped like a brain to give us a sign that they are good for the brain,” Mark explained.

Other important foods she included in her diet were plenty of broccoli, oats, dark chocolate, green tea, and sweet potatoes.

Over time, she started regaining parts of her memory back. 

“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 explained.

With the combination of body and brain exercise the condition started improving. However, nothing happened overnight. It took a lot of courage and determination, as well as lots of help from family and friends. 

“People think that once you get a diagnosis your life is at an end,” Mark said. “You will have good and bad days but it doesn’t have to be the end.”

This diet seemed to work, so the Alzheimer’s society shares Sylvia’s recipes and exercises on their blog hoping they will help other patients ease the symptoms. 

“It’s fantastic that Sylvia along with her son Mark have taken action to create a personal plan that works well for her dementia diagnosis,” said Sue Clarke from the Alzheimer’s Society.

“There is currently no cure or way of preventing the progression of the condition, but taking regular gentle exercise, eating a healthy diet and doing cognitive exercises can help someone with dementia manage their condition more effectively.”

Sylvia and Mark’s efforts may help a lot of other people feel better. Their commitment and devotion led to Sylvia being invited to one of Queen Elizabeth’s garden parties. 

We are really glad for Sylvia. She is one lucky lady for having raised such an exceptional son like Mark.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Monica Pop
Monica Pop
Monica Pop is a senior writer for Bored Daddy magazine covering the latest trending and popular articles across the United States and around the world.

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts

My wife became distant – then suddenly, she was gone, with only an envelope left in her place

Sometimes, you believe that you know someone better than you know yourself, but that suddenly changes and that person starts feeling like a stranger...

Rude man insults a woman at the airport, not knowing he’ll soon regret it

When Dr. Carter saw a short line at the airport, she felt relieved because she was in a desperate need to catch a flight...

Bill to make tips tax-free

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law. Under OBBB, tax reductions worth trillions that were...

80s movie bombshell unrecognizable after quitting fame and escaping stalker nightmare! Can you guess who?

Fans of The Fall Guy might remember Heather Thomas as the stunning stunt double-turned-bounty hunter who shared the screen with Lee Majors in the...

Man’s final wish to see his dog before execution leads to an unforgettable moment that changed everything

A touching story from a rural town found its way to the hearts of many. It wasn't a story of crime and punishment, as...

My bride slipped me a note asking me to ‘say no at the altar’ — it sounded crazy, but I trusted her plan

When I met Emily, I somehow felt that she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. From the...