A decline in a person’s sense of smell over time can predict their loss of cognitive function, and foretell structural changes in regions of the brain important in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, research shows.
The findings, based on a longitudinal study of 515 older adults published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, could lead to the development of smell-test screening to detect cognitive impairment earlier in patients.
