Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide. Especially likely in people over the age of 65, dementia is a progressive, neurological disease that may present as forgetting things, feeling anxious, struggling to make decisions and more.
Noticing these symptoms can be scary, and being on constant alert may not be the best way to protect your mental health and emotional well-being. At the same time, knowing what symptoms to spot can be helpful. Those symptoms aren’t always expected, either.
The Surprising Dementia Symptom You May Be Able to Notice in the Shower
One dementia sign can show up while you’re showering: Not being able to smell or recognize the scent of your shampoo or body wash—barring other issues that can impact your olfactory senses, like COVID-19 or a stuffy nose.
But wait, how does this relate to dementia?
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How Dementia Impacts Someone’s Ability to Smell
First, it’s important to note that a loss of smell at an older age isn’t necessarily a sign of dementia.
“As we age, it’s normal for our senses to change,” says Dr. Meredith Bock, MD, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at Remo Health. “For people living with dementia, these changes can be more noticeable.”
Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, MD, neurologist and sleep center medical director for Sentara RMH Medical Center, speaks to the link. “An increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease dementia has been identified in subjects with olfactory dysfunction,” she says. “Odor identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.”
Basically, this happens because dementia is a neurodegenerative disease. It affects the brain, which, in turn, affects the senses (and other bodily functions).
“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,” Dr. Bock says.
The loss of smell typically occurs slowly over time, neurologists say, and it can actually happen before a person notices any cognitive impairment.
“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,” adds Dr. Siddiqui.
Also, it’s important to note that the type of dementia matters when considering this symptom. Dr. Bock says that the loss of smell might not be noticeable for someone with Alzheimer’s; however, for people with LBD and Parkinson’s disease, it’s typically common and noticeable.
Related: The Surprising Symptom That May Be an Early Sign of Dementia, According to New Study
What You Can Do If You Notice a Loss of Sense of Smell
Not being able to smell well or at all can be scary since it’s associated with diseases such as COVID and dementia. And let’s be real: It’s also just unpleasant. Smell helps us enjoy the taste of food and can even calm anxiety. So what do you do?
“My recommendation to someone who may experience a loss of smell is to consult your physician for a cognitive screen and physical examination,” Dr. Bock says.
Dr. Siddiqui agrees talking to your doctor is best. Again, a loss of smell doesn’t always equal dementia. “There are more common causes of loss of smell, such as common cold, influenza, sinus infection, hay fever, allergic rhinitis and COVID-19,” she says. “In most of these causes, anosmia (loss of sense of smell) can be reversed by treatment of underlying condition and other aromatherapies.”
Related: Want To Lower Your Dementia Risk? Don’t Skip This Vaccine
Can You Get Your Sense of Smell Back?
Whether or not a person can smell again depends on what caused the loss. But in the case of dementia, the answer is sadly not promising.
“Unfortunately, if the loss of smell and taste is due to a neurodegenerative disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, it does not come back,” Dr. Bock says.
Dr. Siddiqui says some patients try aromatherapy to restore their sense of smell, but the loss can be permanent.
Not all joy is lost, however. With eating, Dr. Bock says some people find it helpful to add extra spice, enjoy the textures of food or lean into the social aspects.
When it comes to showering and not being able to enjoy the scent of shampoo and body wash, what can you enjoy? Perhaps the sensations that come with a face exfoliator or more simply, that just-out-of-the-shower fresh feeling.
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Sources
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Dr. Meredith Bock, MD, board-certified neurologist
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Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, neurologist
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Dementia, World Health Organization
