FOR some people, a burning desire for fine foods may be an indication not
of an educated palate but of subtle brain damage, according to two Swiss
researchers. They call the disorder 鈥済ourmand syndrome鈥�.
Neurologist Theodor Landis and psychologist Marianne Regard of Zurich鈥檚
University Hospital report in the May issue of Neurology (vol 48, p
1185) that their suspicions were first aroused by two patients who suddenly
developed a consuming interest in food after suffering brain haemorrhages.
The researchers screened 723 patients with brain lesions who had been
referred to the hospital鈥檚 neuropsychology unit and found 36 who were
preoccupied with fine foods. Of these, 34 had suffered damage to the front part
of the brain鈥檚 right hemisphere.
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