Linda’s dad was having a hard time smelling his coffee in the morning. She also started to notice he was a little more forgetful than usual. That prompted her to take him to his doctor, where he was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease.
Careblazer, losing your sense of smell might be more than just an inconvenience. Research shows it can be one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline, including dementia.
Here’s how smell is linked to the brain, why it happens, and what to do if you notice it in your loved one.
How Smell Loss and Dementia Are Linked
Smell is connected to brain health more than people realize.
The olfactory bulb, which processes smells, is linked directly to areas of the brain involved in memory and thinking, like the hippocampus. In diseases like Alzheimer’s, these areas often show damage. That damage can show up as a reduced sense of smell, or even as losing the ability to detect certain smells.
In fact, research has shown that smell tests can sometimes predict cognitive decline years before noticeable memory problems even happen.
So smell loss isn’t just about a missing sense. It could be a window into what’s happening inside the brain.
Why Smell Loss Happens in Dementia
Smell loss can happen for several reasons in dementia:
- Neurodegeneration. The areas of the brain responsible for processing smells can be damaged.
- Plaque buildup. Plaques can build up in areas like the olfactory bulb, which is responsible for identifying smells.
- Reduced signal processing. Changes in the brain’s pathways can make it harder for the brain to interpret smells.
Does Losing Your Sense of Smell Mean Dementia?
It’s important to know that reduced smell does not mean someone is guaranteed to get dementia. It doesn’t mean they have dementia.
Other things, like allergies, sinuses and aging, can play a role in why someone’s sense of smell has faded.
But if you’re noticing your loved one is losing their sense of smell, and especially if it’s combined with other symptoms you’re concerned about, it could be a bit of a red flag. It’s certainly worth paying attention to.
What to Do If Your Loved One Is Losing Their Sense of Smell
- Rule out other causes first. Sinuses, aging, allergies, nasal blockages, all the other things that can affect smell. That comes first and foremost.
- Ask about a smell test. You can ask your loved one’s provider to do a smell identification test to look for possible neurological issues.
- See a specialist. A neurologist or a neuropsychologist can do testing to see whether there are underlying cognitive issues at play.
- Keep up the things that promote brain health. A healthy diet, exercise, good sleep, and reducing stress as much as possible. We should all be doing these.
The Everyday Dangers of Smell Loss in Dementia
Smell loss can also bring dangers in day-to-day living.
If someone has significant smell loss, with cognitive issues on top of that, they may not be able to tell that something is burning on the stove. They might have a harder time smelling that food has spoiled, so they’re more likely to eat food that’s gone bad.
So smell loss is a serious concern for someone with dementia, because of the way it can affect daily life.
I go through how smell and the other senses change in dementia, and what helps keep the home safe, in how dementia changes the five senses.
Key Takeaways
- Smell loss could be an early warning sign of dementia.
- Noticing it early can lead to a timely medical evaluation.
- Knowing it’s happening helps you be proactive about keeping your loved one’s environment as safe as possible.
If you’ve started to notice changes like this and want hands-on support, the Care Collective is where I go live every single week. There are support rooms, and a library you can access any time from the comfort of your own home. You can learn more here.
