Doctor who diagnosed himself with Alzheimer’s reveals undetected warning sign to look out for

Warning: This article contains discussion of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia which some readers may find distressing.

A former neurologist believed he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease years before receiving an official diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, affects around 928,000 people in the UK.

This type of dementia renders a person unable to carry out simple tasks. It’s also thought to cause the deaths of one in three senior citizens, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr Daniel Gibbs realised he would suffer from Alzheimer’s in his later life when a little-known symptom began developing in his mid-50s.

Dr Daniel Gibbs said he had a type of dementia years before receiving an official diagnosis (Dementia Researcher)

Speaking to DailyMail.com, the expert explained that his sense of smell started to fade away in 2006. At the time, the medical doctor was only 55.

Due to his years working with patients’ brains, he revealed to the publication that ‘almost all people with Alzheimer’s have at least some impairment of smell’, but that ‘most are not aware because it comes on so gradually’.

He realised it would be too early for a fellow practitioner to officially diagnose him though because he wasn’t exhibiting other Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Despite not being ‘particularly worried’, the neurologist took matters into his own hands by referring himself for genetic testing.

His idea was that he’d learn how likely it was for him to develop a loss of cognitive functioning.

It’s understood the Portland native’s 2012 results showed two copies of a gene - APOE4 allele - meaning it would be likely for him to develop dementia in later life.

This APOE gene variant is the most significant genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, as per the National Institute on Ageing.

Having at least one APOE4 gene doubles or triples the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, according to reports, with two copies increasing your risk around 12-fold.

It’s worth mentioning that inheriting this specific gene doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to develop a type of dementia, states the Mayo Clinic.

Three years after being ‘stunned’ by his test results, Dr Gibbs was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Losing your sense of smell can be an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease (Getty stock image)

How has Dr Gibbs’ life changed since his diagnosis?

Since being diagnosed in 2015, the retired specialist has implemented various lifestyle changes in an attempt to slow the progression of the disease.

These include taking up Tai Chi, following the Mediterranean diet - which has a ‘greater emphasis on berries and strict restrictions on dairy products' - and giving up alcohol.

Nine years on from his official diagnosis, Dr Gibbs has opened up on the unexpected ‘advantages’ of losing his smell.

“I don’t get disgusted easily, I don’t mind picking up dog poop or doing other smelly jobs,” he told the publication.

“I don’t waste money on expensive wine. I can’t smell a skunk.

“By the time my sense of smell was completely gone, I started to be aware of something else,” he continued, adding he’s become a ‘more tolerant person’.

“I will engage a homeless person in conversation, something I’m ashamed to admit I would not have done in the past,” he claimed.

However, he claimed that the biggest downside to losing his sense of smell was that food ‘all tastes pretty much the same’.

Dr Gibbs added he really misses the smell of bacon being fried on the hob.

Anyone who believes they could be suffering from dementia is advised to speak to a medical professional (Getty stock image)

What other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease should you look out for?

As well as losing your sense of smell, other early-stage Alzheimer's disease symptoms include increased anxiety, periods of confusion and poor judgement.

The NHS writes that as Alzheimer’s disease develops, problems with your memory are likely to worsen.

You may struggle to remember the names of people you know and may develop obsessive, repetitive or impulsive behaviour.

Other symptoms at this stage include: disturbed sleep, hallucinations and increased disorientation.

In the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms can become increasingly worse.

You or those suffering from cognitive difficulties may experience severe weight loss, gradual loss of speech and dysphagia - difficulty eating and swallowing.

It’s advised you see a GP if you’re worried about your memory or think you may have dementia.

If you've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact the Alzheimer’s Society via 0333 150 3456 or visit their website for more information.