We all come to rely on the senses that we have available to us. If we are lucky, then we have access to all five: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. For some people, they are not so lucky and have to rely more on the ones they do have. Researchers have found that your sense of smell could now be used to predict the onset of Alzheimer’s.
A recent study was carried out at the Massachusetts General Hospital and involved a total of 183 older adults. To begin with, all were given brain imagining and medical assessments in order to test their cognitive functioning abilities. The study then involved participants completing a four-point test that included evaluating ten different common smells such as mint, lemon, and strawberry. Participants that had difficulty recalling these smells were found to be suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Don’t start to panic if you do have a poorer sense of smell than you did before. It doesn’t automatically mean that you have Alzheimer’s. Our smell tends to decline as we get older, so this could be one reason behind it. But if you do have any concerns, then have your doctor check it out. Alzheimer’s is a horrible, debilitating disease, and the earlier it can be diagnosed the better the chance of effective treatment options.
There is still no cure for it and is the six largest cause of death. But, there are still a few things we can all do to try and prevent ourselves from getting it. They are:
-Exercise regularly. Not just your body, but your brain too. Regularly complete crosswords or read or complete some other form of mental stimulation as a way to preserve your brain.
-Keep your head protected and always wear a helmet as head trauma has been linked to Alzheimer’s.
-Maintain a healthy diet. Those high in vegetables such as leafy greens and broccoli have been proven to reduce the rate of cognitive decline in patients.
More News To Read
- How To Quickly Move Photos From one iPhone to Another?
- Can Scientists Create an Algorithm to Differentiate Right From Wrong?
- Want Solar Power But on a Budget? Use Blu-Ray Discs Instead!
- CRISPR Gene Editing Used to Treat Lung Cancer Treatment for First Time Ever
- No More Noise Free Engines Will Allowed For Hybrid and Electrical Cars