This telltale sign could affect someone years before a dementia diagnosis, according to experts
Many of us are aware of the most common signs of dementia. A syndrome linked to the progressive decline of the brain, it can cause memory loss, behavioural changes and create difficulties in talking to people.
However, other warning signs might seem less obvious. According to one expert, a certain symptom of the condition could appear in perhaps the unlikeliest of places – the shower.
Neurologist Dr Meredith Bock revealed that being unable to smell your shampoo and soap in the shower could be an indicator of cognitive problems. This is because anosmia, or the loss of sense of smell, has been linked to dementia and can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
This could even come on years before a person receives a dementia diagnosis. Of course a loss of smell doesn’t necessarily mean someone has dementia.
There are far more common reasons for a decrease in the sense, like the common cold, flu, sinus infections, allergies, and COVID-19. But if coupled with other telltale symptoms, it could signify something more serious.
Speaking to Parade, Dr Bock – chief medical officer at Remo Health – said: “The process of neurodegeneration that causes dementia can also affect sensation and sensory processing related to smell, making it harder for them to recognize familiar scents like their favourite shampoo or body wash.”
It is thought this occurs due to the fact the area of the brain that governs smell can become damaged by dementia. One study, published in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia journal in 2023, found that a loss of smell was linked to an increased risk of dementia.
As part of the study, researchers followed more than 2,400 participants for an average period of nearly eight years, tracking their sense of smell and its relationship with dementia. A complete loss of smell was found to have a nearly threefold higher risk of developing dementia.
And hyposmia, or a reduced sense of smell, was linked to a 1.76 to 1.85 times increased risk of dementia. Moreover, participants who suffered “severe olfactory dysfunction” were also at an increased risk, with those reporting very poor smell function showing a 2.56-fold increased risk of developing dementia.
A separate study, conducted by a team at the University of Chicago medicine department, found that a rapid decline in a person’s sense of smell during a period of normal cognition predicted multiple features of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers said this discovery could help to identify people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are at higher risk of dementia early on.
Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, neurologist and medical director for Sentara RMH Medical Centre, also told Parade: “An increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease dementia has been identified in subjects with olfactory dysfunction. Odour identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.”
If someone experiences this symptom, Dr Bock recommended speaking to a GP. Once in the doctor’s office, they can order cognitive tests to see if neurological decline could be causing the lack of smell.
Dr Bock added: “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.”
The NHS lists the most common symptoms of dementia as:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
If you experience any symptoms, you should speak to your GP.
