A surprising symptom which could be believed to be the effect of another illness might actually be an early warning sign of dementia.
While people generally think about memory problems and losing your cognitive abilities as being the main things to look out for, there are other symptoms that could slip under the radar - such as walking slow.
Dementia is ‘a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types’ as per the NHS.
It can include a range of symptoms in those who are suffering before their diagnosis, such as memory loss, a change in thinking speed, slowed mental sharpness and quickness, using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking and understanding, changes in mood and movement as well as difficulties doing daily activities.
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However, there is one thing that isn’t on the list which doctors have come out to share could signify dementia in a patient and it’s not an obvious thing at all.
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Along with memory problems, losing your sense of smell could be an early indicator of dementia.
According to a report in Parade, this is the under the radar thing that you may brush off as signs as the common cold. But it’s best to get checked if you’re noticing the signs above too.
Dr Meredith Bock, MD, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at Remo Health, told the outlet: “As we age, it’s normal for our senses to change.
“For people living with dementia, these changes can be more noticeable.”
Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, MD, neurologist and sleep centre medical director for Sentara RMH Medical Center, added: “An increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease dementia has been identified in subjects with olfactory dysfunction.
She added: “Odor identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.”
Bock explained: “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.”
The NHS shared that ‘people often get confused about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases.’
However, the sense of smell symptom is more indicative of a specific type of dementia, called Lewy Body Dementia.
Dementia’s impact on a person’s sense of smell is gradual and not immediately something you’d flag as an issue.
But for those who have Lewy Body Dementia, it’s all ‘part of the disease process,’ Siddiqui said, adding, “Generally, it precedes symptoms by almost a decade, in some cases.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association: “Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a type of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function. Its features may include spontaneous changes in attention and alertness, recurrent visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder, and slow movement, tremors or rigidity.”
If you believe that you or someone you know could be showing signs of Lewy Body Dementia, speak to your GP.
Britt Jones