▲ A University of Chicago study suggests that a rapid decline in the sense of smell may indicate brain problems and even Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock image)
Dementia is a disease that causes brain function decline due to neuronal cell damage in the brain, among which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. A recent University of Chicago study found that a rapid decline in the sense of smell may indicate brain problems and even Alzheimer’s disease.
While we tend to underestimate the power of smell compared to sight and hearing, smell provides critical information to the brain, such as detecting potential hazards like smoke and recognizing the scent of freshly baked cookies.
Researchers at the University of Chicago School of Medicine, including Jayant M. Pinto, a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago, have uncovered another reason why the sense of smell deserves attention. Not only can people expect a gradual loss of cognitive function from a decline in olfactory sensitivity over time, it can also predict structural changes in important brain regions associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The research team analyzed monitoring data from 515 seniors over the past 20 years. Participants were tested annually to learn regarding their ability to recognize certain odors, cognitive function and signs of dementia, as well as other health parameters. Had an MRI scan.
Pinto and his research team wanted to explore whether a person’s loss of smell over time might identify brain changes associated with cognitive function. The study’s lead author, Rachel Pacyna, a fourth-year medical student at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago, said:
Compared with people whose sense of smell declines slowly or maintains a normal sense of smell, we believe that people whose sense of smell declines rapidly will be in poorer condition, have a greater chance of brain problems, and may even develop Alzheimer’s disease.
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Responsible editor: Luo Jiaxin
