Our sense of smell does more than detect the aroma of fresh coffee or warn us about smoke. It might even be able to help doctors spot early signs of diseases that affect memory, like Alzheimer’s.
Scientists at the University of Chicago Medicine have found that changes in the sense of smell could signal cognitive decline, offering an early clue about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
This discovery is part of ongoing research into the way our senses connect with brain health. The team’s work, recently published in the medical journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests that a simple smell test might one day become an important tool for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is currently a major health issue, affecting over six million people in the United States alone. This disease gradually impacts memory, thinking, and daily living.
Because there’s no cure, early detection is essential to help slow its progression and give people more options for managing the condition. Finding ways to detect Alzheimer’s early could give doctors and patients a valuable head start.
The researchers used information from a large study known as the Memory and Aging Project, which has been collecting data on memory and aging-related conditions over time.
People participating in this project regularly take tests to assess their sense of smell, memory, and overall cognitive function. By examining data from these smell tests, researchers were able to identify a connection between smell loss and brain changes related to Alzheimer’s.
They found that people who lost their sense of smell quickly, even while their memory was still functioning normally, showed other early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
These signs included reduced gray matter (the part of the brain involved in processing information) in areas of the brain related to smell and memory, as well as poorer cognitive test scores. This group was also more likely to develop dementia.
Interestingly, the risk associated with losing the sense of smell was found to be similar to that posed by a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a gene called APOE-e4.
This gene is one of the most well-known factors linked to Alzheimer’s, but the study suggests that smell loss could provide equally significant insights into Alzheimer’s risk.
Looking ahead, the research team hopes to further verify their findings by examining brain tissue for markers of Alzheimer’s.
They also plan to test if smell loss as a warning sign is consistent across different groups of people, including those with varied ethnic backgrounds and health conditions. This could reveal more about who is most likely to benefit from early smell tests.
For several years, researchers have been studying how our sense of smell might indicate more about overall health and brain aging.
In fact, earlier studies have shown that older adults who completely lose their sense of smell are three times more likely to die within five years than those who don’t experience smell loss.
This link between smell and brain health seems to be even stronger than links with lung disease, heart disease, or cancer.
This research suggests that, in the future, something as simple as a smell test might provide a low-cost, accessible way to spot Alzheimer’s early. It’s a promising area for further study, especially since existing tests for Alzheimer’s tend to be complex and costly.
And while no test can prevent Alzheimer’s, there’s growing interest in lifestyle changes that might help protect the brain. Studies have shown that diets like the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, may support brain health.
Blueberries, known for their antioxidant properties, are also being explored for their potential to help with memory.
Similarly, other factors, such as vitamin D levels and blood pressure, have been found to impact brain health.
Researchers have noted that vitamin D deficiency is linked to both Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, while problems with blood pressure, particularly at night, might increase Alzheimer’s risk.
This study offers more evidence that paying attention to even small changes in our senses might provide new clues about health, especially for diseases that can go undetected in their early stages.
Smell tests could one day be as routine as blood pressure checks, adding a powerful tool for understanding brain health.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and extra-virgin olive oil could boost brain function.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
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