Often overlooked sensory change could be early sign of dementia
Health experts have warned of a little-known sign of dementia that can be spotted while taking a shower, and it could help patients get an all-important early diagnosis. An estimated 900,000 people across the UK are currently living with dementia, with this figure expected to rise in accordance with an ageing population.
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.
Over time, symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, loss of executive function, and speech difficulties will worsen, significantly affecting a person's life. A diagnosis can be devastating for the patient and their loved ones, but finding out early could help them plan for the future and better understand their condition.
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.
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.
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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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