In your daily bath time, an unnoticed detail may be revealing the secrets of your health. When you enjoy the freshness of the shampoo and the cleanliness of the soap under the warm water, if you suddenly find that these familiar and fascinating aroma seems to disappear into the invisible, no longer as distinct as in the past, it can be felt, this time, perhaps should be lit a warning light, for their health to put a hand. The quiet retreat of the sense of smell sometimes may be the brain health red light warning signals, especially with dementia, a cunning neurological disease that has a thousand links.
Early clues to Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia or Parkinson's disease may be lurking in those overlooked moments of olfactory absence. These diseases are like thieves in time, quietly laying mazes deep within the brain, and a diminished sense of smell may be the earliest trail they leave behind, years or even a decade before a formal diagnosis is made. However, there is no need to be alarmed by a momentary loss of smell. After all, a weakened sense of smell is not a label for dementia; it is more like a multifaceted visitor that may hide behind more common features such as the common cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, and so on. These “little problems”, although uncomfortable, often get better with treatment.
Dementia, the invisible erosion of the brain, with its neurodegenerative features, silently impoverishes the brain as a fertile ground for wisdom. Just as the subtle and magical sensory experience of smell blossoms under the weaving of the brain's sophisticated network, once the brain area controlling the sense of smell suffers irreversible damage, that keen sense of the world's fragrances may leave us forever. About 3% of people over the age of 40 in the U.S. are challenged by the loss of their sense of smell, but this is just the tip of the iceberg, and the real numbers are perhaps even more alarming due to the lack of in-depth research. What's even more disturbing is that the risk of losing one's sense of smell snowballs with age, making it a health concern that cannot be ignored.
The delicate and subtle sensory experience of smell seems to be quietly writing its unique chapter in the different chapters of life. From 40 to 49 years old to 80 years old, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction is like a narrative with ups and downs slowly unfolding its melody. In the golden years of 40 to 49, about 4% of people have begun to feel the subtle changes in the olfactory world, as if the once-familiar scent of flowers and coffee has become less clear as if separated by a layer of mist. This percentage jumps to 10 per cent once they reach the threshold of 50 to 59 years of age. In this age group, many people are surprised to find that their perception of odours is quietly deteriorating and that the aromas that once touched their hearts are now only vaguely recognisable.
The prevalence of olfactory disorders reaches an even higher 13% by the time people reach the ripe old age of 60 to 69 years old. At this point, many people begin to realise that the familiar smells that once accompanied them through countless mornings and nights, such as their favourite shampoo or body wash, are now unfamiliar and distant. For silver-haired people between the ages of 70 and 79, the prevalence rate is as high as 25%, just as the leaves fall in the fall. In this age group, the deterioration of the sense of smell has become a common phenomenon, and many people are beginning to miss the wonderful aromas that were once within their reach.
However, the story doesn't end there. As the years move into the long chapter of 80+, the prevalence of olfactory disorders flurries like winter snowflakes, covering nearly 39% of the population. At this age, many people have become accustomed to living in a world of scented ambiguity, where the odours that once tantalised them now exist only in the depths of their memories.
So when the aromas in the shower become fuzzy, think of it as an opportunity to revisit your self-health. Don't think it's a small thing, take it seriously and look for the secret behind this olfactory malfunction.
