It’s estimated that a staggering 944,000 individuals in the UK are currently grappling with dementia, a condition characterised by a variety of symptoms stemming from brain damage caused by various diseases, including Alzheimer’s. This condition often leads to memory loss and language difficulties, profoundly impacting the person affected, as well as their family and friends.

While there is currently no known cure for dementia, early diagnosis can assist those affected to live as well as possible through medication, treatment, and professional care. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware not only of the most common symptoms but also of less apparent ones.

One early and significant indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most prevalent form of dementia globally, is anosmia (loss of smell) or hyposmia (diminished sense of smell). These symptoms can manifest before others do, reports the Mirror.

And it’s something many of us might notice while doing everyday tasks. For example, have you burnt the toast at breakfast and you can’t smell it?

Can you smell the coffee as it’s brewing? Can you smell the fresh fruit as you’re chopping it to put over your yoghurt?

A recent study led by the National Institute of Ageing in the US, and featured in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, has highlighted a link between the loss of smell and the accelerated accumulation of Alzheimer’s-related pathology as identified in brain scans. It suggests that individuals in their 70s who struggled to identify odours from common items like roses, lemons, and onions were significantly more likely to develop dementia over the following ten years compared to those without such difficulties.

Willa Brenowitch, the study’s lead author and a neuroscientist with UCSF, shared: “The olfactory bulb, which is critical for smell, is affected fairly early on in the course of the disease. It’s thought that smell may be a preclinical indicator of dementia, while hearing and vision may have more of a role in promoting dementia.”

In a bid to provide an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s before the onset of memory loss, researchers at the University of Warwick are pioneering a novel smell and taste test. Their goal is to invent an apparatus capable of generating precise flavours and scents, with participants then tasked to identify them.

In the meantime, until such diagnostic advances are realised, the best approach is to remain vigilant regarding any alterations in the senses of smell and taste, particularly when enjoying daily meals such as breakfast or dinner.

The NHS has stated that sensory changes like loss of smell or taste can be triggered by a variety of factors, ranging from a common cold or flu to allergies or sinusitis. However, if your sense of smell doesn’t return to normal within a few weeks, it’s recommended to consult with your GP.