Little-known dementia sign people might notice while they're in shower or bath
Experts have shared an unusual sign of dementia and it could be something you notice while in the bath.
Spotting it early can help people to get the crucial diagnosis early, and there are an estimated 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia.
The more commonly known symptoms include confusion, memory loss, difficulty carrying out tasks and mood changes. These all worsen over time and will impact a persons life significantly. So finding out early can help families prepare for the future easier and give a better understanding.
But one lesser known symptom could also highlight early signs of dementia according to researchers.
Although many people will be familiar with the memory loss associated with dementia, there is one symptom you may not be aware of - a loss of smell. According to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Chicago a sharp decline in person's sense of smell could well be an early indicator of dementia, with memory being crucial for our ability to recognise different scents.
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Dementia is an umbrella term for more than 200 progressive conditions that impact how a person's brain cells work, according to Dementia UK, the most common being Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia.
It's hoped that these findings, which were based on a longitudinal study of 515 older adults, could lead to smell-test screening being developed, much like tests for vision and hearing.
As previously reported by The Sun, these findings could also be useful for those keeping an eye out for day-to-day signs in their own lives. For example, being unable to smell your shampoo, conditioner, or shower gel while taking a shower or bath could indicate that you should check in with your GP.
Senior author Jayant M. Pinto, professor of surgery at the University of Chicago, said: "This study provides another clue to how a rapid decline in the sense of smell is a really good indicator of what's going to end up structurally occurring in specific regions of the brain."
Pinto, who studies olfactory and sinus disease, continued: "We were able to show that the volume and shape of grey matter in olfactory and memory-associated areas of the brains of people with rapid decline in their sense of smell were smaller compared to people who had less severe olfactory decline."
Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), and also ranks as one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.
If you're looking for information or advice about dementia or Alzheimer's, you can call Dementia UK's Dementia Helpline for free on 0800 888 6678.
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