Inability to recognize scents in shower may be symptom of dementia
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If you are having trouble recognizing the scent of shampoo or body wash as you lather up, it may be a symptom of dementia.
However, losing your sense of smell doesn’t necessarily mean you have the neurological disease that leads to forgetfulness, anxiety and the inability to make decisions.
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Infected by COVID-19 or having a stuffy nose can also hinder one’s sense of smell.
“As we age, it’s normal for our senses to change,” Dr. Meredith Bock, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at dementia care company, Remo Health, told Parade.com.
“For people living with dementia, these changes can be more noticeable.”
According to Statistics Canada, approximately 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Cognitive decline can be detected by testing for a patient’s ability to recognize scents and odours because dementia is a progressive disease that affects the brain, hindering its ability to decipher senses and perform bodily functions.
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“An increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease dementia has been identified in subjects with olfactory (sense of smell) dysfunction,” said Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, neurologist and sleep centre medical director for Sentara RMH Medical Center.
“Odour identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.”
While the sense of smell can decline as a person ages, the loss typically occurs slowly over a long stretch of time before being noticed.
As with any changes to your body, neurologists recommend those noticing changes to their sense of smell consult a doctor and undergo cognitive testing.
“Unfortunately, if the loss of smell and taste is due to a neurodegenerative disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, it does not come back,” said Bock.
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
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