According to new research, a loss of smell is often an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, this new research indicates that a loss of smell could be used as warning signs for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from New York University’s Langone Medical Center have suggested that one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease may be loss of smell. If detected early enough, this may provide an opportunity for early intervention before Alzheimer’s has progressed significantly, affecting the persons life.
Using mice with varying levels of amyloid plaques generally associated with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers discovered that these plaques most often affected the area responsible for smell first. This could result in a new smell test being used for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease because even a small amount of amyloid plaques would result in a loss of smell.
Using loss of smell as an early sign of Alzheimer’s diease, it is hoped that new diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s could be developed. This would allow treatment of Alzheimer’s before it progressed to a point having severe impact on a persons life.
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