Smell Is One of the First Senses to Go in Alzheimer’s, It’s Not Always Cognition
Most people think that the ability to do simple math or memory are two of the defining signs of impending Alzheimer’s, but that’s incorrect.
With an estimated 32 million cases worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia. It is crucial to identify early indicators to screen populations at risk and execute interventions promptly. There is a critical need for sensitive and early biomarkers to screen people for AD right now. One of the most encouraging sensory biomarkers for AD right now is smell. When there is a loss of smell perception, identification, or memory, it is known as olfactory dysfunction.
Our olfactory (smell) sense provides important information to the brain, but it is often overlooked compared to visual and auditory abilities.
Researchers, however, have uncovered another fascinating aspect of our sense of smell, or olfaction. A gradual decrease in smell sensitivity is an early warning sign of cognitive decline and structural brain alterations associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Analysis of 515 seniors indicated that a smell-test screening could detect cognitive impairment early. As a national monitor for an Alzheimer’s medication protocol, I saw smell sense testing provided to…
