The study included 865 people who were tested at 5-year intervals.
The tests looked at their ability to detect odor and asked them what odor they were smelling.
At age 75, people with the gene also started to lose the ability to identify odors.
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If you lose your sense of smell, you shouldnt jump to worrying about Alzheimers.
Heres what experts say.
Why Would Smell Be Linked to Alzheimers?
Researchers already know that decreasing ability to smell is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinsons and Alzheimers.
Your ability to smell starts in the mucus membranes of our nose.
Electrical signals are sent through theolfactory nervedirectly to the olfactory cortex in the brain, which processes the smell.
These connections could explain why certain smells trigger specific emotions and memories.
According to the Alzheimers Association, there is no single test that can confirm a patient has dementia.
However, that could change.
That is why I consider this research so important.
What Else Causes Loss of Smell?
Olfactory dysfunction can be due to a variety of conditions.
In recent years, the most notable has been COVID-19.
You wont know whats up with your sense of smell until you see your provider.
It might turn out to be something simple that will get better on its own.
If not, you may need to see a provider who is more of a smell expert.
Let your provider know if your sense of smell has changed, especially if its not getting better.
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Alzheimers Association.Medical tests for diagnosing Alzheimers.
University of Warwick.New taste and smell test could diagnose Alzheimer’s long before memory loss starts.
Karamali K, Elliott M, Hopkins C.COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.
2022;30(1):19-25. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000783
