Rapid loss of smell in old age can be a sign of a deadly form of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease. This association with an increased risk of the disease was shown by scientists at the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California, who published an article in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
It is known that beta-amyloid plaques, which are formed from misfolded beta-amyloid proteins and accumulate in tissues affected by Alzheimer’s disease, often appear in the olfactory centers before they begin to damage neurons in other areas of the brain. However, it is still unknown whether Alzheimer’s disease really begins with a deterioration in a person’s sense of smell.
Scientists analyzed data from 515 older people who participated in the Memory and Aging Project (MAP) study, whose health was monitored for 18 years. Their olfactory function was assessed annually, as well as cognitive tests and neurological studies. A subgroup of 121 participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain to monitor the reduction in gray matter volumes.
It turned out that a rapid decline in smell is associated with a higher risk of subsequent mild cognitive impairment or dementia by 89 and 26 percent, respectively, as well as with less gray matter. All of these outcomes are early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The increased risk of cognitive impairment with loss of smell is similar to the increased risk in carriers of the APOE-ε4 gene, which is involved in the development of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the neuronal death observed in patients with a lost sense of smell was identical to that observed in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is the leading cause of death for the elderly in Western countries, but there are currently no preventive treatments. More than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form of neurodegenerative disease.
So far, there are no cures for dementia, but experts believe that the right lifestyle help prevent disease. In particular, it is necessary pay attention to nutrition. What foods will save you from dementia? Find out in the gallery:
Read also: How to recognize the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Don’t miss the video:
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