Neurologist points out unexpected symptom of dementia that could turn up when you are in the shower

Impactful and serious diseases and conditions will mostly give warning signs before things get worse. The body will try to notify us of an underlying issue through simpler symptoms. We must take note of these random and seemingly unimportant aches, bruises and other symptoms and act in due time. For a popular condition, dementia, many people associate the same only with age and memory. However, there is a sign that can help diagnose the same long before things get worse, per Parade. Neurologists Meredith Bock and Fouzia Siddiqui shared their insights and explained how one symptom of dementia can be spotted while showering. 

The experts suggest that being unable to smell your shampoo or products while showering can be an early sign of dementia. Apart from cold, a stuffy nose and other conditions that can block the senses, if you’re finding it difficult to get the scent of your products, it could be a cause for concern. “As we age, it’s normal for our senses to change. For people living with dementia, these changes can be more noticeable,” Bock explained. She connected the same to smelling scents and 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 favorite shampoo or body wash.”

Siddiqi pointed out that subjects who have olfactory dysfunctions are at a higher risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia. She added, “Odor identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.” This happens because the condition has a lot to do with bodily functions. Being a neurodegenerative disease, it affects the senses too. Dysfunctional senses are early symptoms that one can spot before cognitive ones. “In the case of Lewy body dementia (LBD), olfactory dysfunction seems to be part of the disease process, and generally it precedes symptoms by almost a decade, in some cases,” Siddiqui explained. 

Author Jayant M. Pinto, a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago who studies olfactory and sinus disease, revealed in a study, “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.” The study also mentioned that people carrying the risk of loss of smell could also carry the “APOE-e4 gene,” a genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s. Bock carefully noted that this sensory symptom may be visible only for certain types of dementia. For instance, someone with LBD or Parkinson's can see a noticeable decline in olfactory senses. However, for people with Alzheimer’s, this may not be the case. 

Neurologists caution people to be mindful of titling the lack of smell as a symptom of dementia. As one can lose sense of smell for a variety of reasons, including COVID, stuffy nose and many others, it is crucial to check with a medical professional. “My recommendation to someone who may experience a loss of smell is to consult your physician for a cognitive screen and physical examination,” Bock suggested. Siddiqi added that if the loss of smell is due to minor reasons, it is likely that it will come back and last temporarily. However, if it is due to dementia, it may not be reversed.