Detecting Alzheimer's early could be as simple as noticing one thing during your shower

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, slowly chipping away at memory and cognitive abilities. The usual signs of dementia include memory loss, difficulty focusing, and problems with everyday tasks.

However, Alzheimer's specialists have pinpointed a potential early warning sign of dementia that could revolutionise how quickly the condition is diagnosed. While there's no known cure currently, an early diagnosis can help medical professionals slow its progression and lessen its effects.

Memory loss is often linked to dementia; however, experts from the University of Chicago have highlighted a significant decrease in the sense of smell as a possible early indicator. This discovery suggests that people might be able to spot Alzheimer's disease in its early stages, particularly if they notice a reduced ability to recognise familiar smells during activities like showering.

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The study hinges on the connection between odour recognition and memory. The researchers tested the olfactory function of 515 older adults, aiming to create screening tests for the sense of smell similar to those used for vision and hearing checks..

Such tests could prompt people to watch out for early warning signs, such as not being able to smell their shampoo or shower gel as strongly while bathing.

Jayant M Pinto, a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago with expertise in smell and sinus diseases, highlighted the significance of their findings: "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."

"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."

In case you're starting to worry about your memory or think you might be showing signs of dementia, it's always best to speak to your GP. Also, if you happen to observe worrying symptoms in someone else, gently suggest they book an appointment with their GP and perhaps offer to accompany them.

Getting an early diagnosis of dementia is key as it opens doors for future care and treatment plans. Identifying symptoms early on is absolutely critical.

Whilst there isn't a cure for dementia at this point, catching it early means better management of the condition. The HSE has pointed out that Alzheimer's disease symptoms tend to develop slowly over many years, and how quickly they progress can vary from person to person.

When Alzheimer's starts to creep in during the early stages, the main alarm bell is usually memory lapses. If you have the beginnings of Alzheimer's, you might also notice some subtle differences like mood swings.

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