An early sign of Alzheimer’s disease can be noticed while taking a shower: what should you look out for?

Why? Because smelling isn’t just a matter of the nose: it’s a brain function closely linked to memory. The areas of the brain that allow us to identify odors are among the first to be affected in early-onset forms of Alzheimer’s disease.

A simple, but revealing test
In an eight-year study of more than 1,000 participants, researchers used a highly accessible olfactory test: they simply scratched scent samples and identified common odors—such as soap, smoke, rose, or leather. The result? People who had difficulty naming these scents had a significantly higher risk of developing cognitive impairment in later years.

A score below 8 out of 12 was already considered a warning sign. Combined with a short memory test, this sensory test proved to be as relevant as some brain MRIs or much more complex biological analyses. A promising result.

A valuable lead for earlier detection

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