[senior citizen]

Alzheimer's test: Can you smell peanut butter?

This is true. Loss of sense of smell was one of the first symptoms my mom had. The forgetfulness came much later.............

She could not smell anything decades before she was diagnosed with Alzheimers in her early 80's...........passing away at age 91.

No one paid much attention to her when she would mention her loss of smell at age 60 on..........

[Mikeod]

It's important to note that the study does not deal with an overall loss of smell sensitivity, but a difference between left and right nostril sensitivity. And it right now only confirms a diagnosis. Further study is needed to determine if it is diagnostic. Also, the population studied was very small.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by mikeod

It's important to note that the study does not deal with an overall loss of smell sensitivity, but a difference between left and right nostril sensitivity. And it right now only confirms a diagnosis. Further study is needed to determine if it is diagnostic. Also, the population studied was very small.

Not only was it a very small group but there are many other variables that apparently were not controlled very well if at all.


Of the 24 patients tested who had mild cognitive impairment, which sometimes signals Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes turns out to be something else, about 10 patients showed a left nostril impairment and 14 patients did not. The researchers said more studies must be conducted to fully understand the implications.

Stamps and Heilman point out that this test could be used by clinics that don’t have access to the personnel or equipment to run other, more elaborate tests required for a specific diagnosis, which can lead to targeted treatment.

[Villages PL]

I never heard that there could be a difference between the left and right nostril.

The first thing that happened to my father was that he had a few mini strokes. These were strokes that lasted only about 3 seconds. He thought he was going to fall down but it didn't last long enough for him to fall. Then the next thing we noticed was that he had NO sense of smell, and that was with both nostrils. About 3 decades later he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

But loss of smell alone will not give you a diagnosis of Alzheimer's with any certainty. That's because there can be other causes.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I never heard that there could be a difference between the left and right nostril.

The first thing that happened to my father was that he had a few mini strokes. These were strokes that lasted only about 3 seconds. He thought he was going to fall down but it didn't last long enough for him to fall. Then the next thing we noticed was that he had NO sense of smell, and that was with both nostrils. Roughly 2 decades later he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

But loss of smell alone will not give you a diagnosis of Alzheimer's with any certainty. That's because there can be other causes.

A stroke generally is caused by increased pressure in the small vessels in the brain or a clot.

Alzheimers is caused by plaque building up in the brain tissue causing the synapsis not to fire correctly.

Any trauma to the brain can cause loss of some of the function, such as vision, hearing, smell or touch.

I agree with Mikeod and Keeping it Real.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

A stroke generally is caused by increased pressure in the small vessels in the brain or a clot.

A "transient ischemic attack" (mini-stroke) happens when there's a temporary drop in the blood supply, depriving the brain of oxygen. My father had low-to-normal blood pressure so I doubt it was caused by "increased pressure". And it seems that a clot would have had longer lasting effects. There was no noticeable after effect from his strokes, other than loss of smell that was noticed sometime later. Also, an MRI showed that he had absolutely no coronary artery disease.

I said he had a "few" mini-strokes but I was talking about the ones that I was aware of. He possibly could have had many more during the night, when his blood pressure could have been too low, and not been aware of them.

Alzheimers is caused by plaque building up in the brain tissue causing the synapsis not to fire correctly.

Yes, but what causes the plaque to begin building up in the first place? I have read that one of the causes could be a lack of oxygen to the brain. And that's exactly what I described above with a transient ischemic attack.

[Villages PL]

What if bigger and better studies are done and the result is that they can use the smell test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease decades in advance. Then what? Would that mean the person is doomed to get Alzheimer's no matter what lifestyle that person chooses?

I'm not asking for myself; thankfully, I have a very good sense of smell.

I'm just wondering what others would say as far as options for such a person. Do you think that person should just give up and accept their fate? Or should they try hard to prove the diagnosis to be wrong?

[pooh]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

What if bigger and better studies are done and the result is that they can use the smell test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease decades in advance. Then what? Would that mean the person is doomed to get Alzheimer's no matter what lifestyle that person chooses?

I'm not asking for myself; thankfully, I have a very good sense of smell.

I'm just wondering what others would say as far as options for such a person. Do you think that person should just give up and accept their fate? Or should they try hard to prove the diagnosis to be wrong?

Research continues and slowly more and more will be found out about this serious and devastating condition. Maybe there will be some treatment that can help as earlier and earlier diagnosis is made.

Researchers halt brain cell death in mice, hope for Alzheimer's | News | DW.DE | 11.10.2013

As more and more about Alzheimers is discovered, we may know why it happens and to whom it may happen and what, if anything, can be done to forestall or prevent the disease from manifesting.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

What if bigger and better studies are done and the result is that they can use the smell test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease decades in advance. Then what? Would that mean the person is doomed to get Alzheimer's no matter what lifestyle that person chooses?

I'm not asking for myself; thankfully, I have a very good sense of smell.

I'm just wondering what others would say as far as options for such a person. Do you think that person should just give up and accept their fate? Or should they try hard to prove the diagnosis to be wrong?

We encountered that exact problem several years ago. There was evidence that someone with Alzeimers would show a reaction to a weak eye drop that shouldn't cause a reaction at all. If we used this test, was it specific enough that it accurately predicted the disease? And, since there is no cure, what do we tell the patient, if anything? The discussion was intense. There were strong feelings that we had to tell them so that they could perhaps plan for the future, make lifestyle changes, even make career changes. There was concern that some would take the info and sink into depression, leaving family in the lurch. We called in bioethicists and others to try to formulate some plan. It turned out the test was not specific enough to make any judgement from the results in a normal person, so it was not adopted as a screening test. So we never got to a final decision, but the debate was interesting.

Personally, I would want to know so I could make some plans before I was incapacitated. Things I wanted to do or see, or say. I had a dear patient whose husband developed the disease. They had a wonderful marriage, but as he got worse, he started to say awful, mean things to her, even accusing her of stealing from him. Sometimes she would come to the office and just talk and cry until she felt better. Fortunately, we had a multi-disciplinary group that she also could visit for support. From this, I would want to talk to people important to me to let them know how much I cared for them in case I may follow that path.

A very interesting, thought provoking question.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by pooh

Research continues and slowly more and more will be found out about this serious and devastating condition. Maybe there will be some treatment that can help as earlier and earlier diagnosis is made.

Researchers halt brain cell death in mice, hope for Alzheimer's | News | DW.DE | 11.10.2013

As more and more about Alzheimers is discovered, we may know why it happens and to whom it may happen and what, if anything, can be done to forestall or prevent the disease from manifesting.

A lot of research has already been done concerning the effects of lifestyle choices. But it seems to me that most people are ignoring that research. Will a magic pill come along to disolve the plaque or keep it from forming in the first place? I highly doubt it. And I think many who are encouraged to wait for it are going to be sadly out of luck.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

A lot of research has already been done concerning the effects of lifestyle choices. But it seems to me that most people are ignoring that research. Will a magic pill come along to disolve the plaque or keep it from forming in the first place? I highly doubt it. And I think many who are encouraged to wait for it are going to be sadly out of luck.

Changes in the lifestyle MAY offer some potential for avoiding or forestalling mental deterioration. Not sure if the research says it will work for all because if it was so, more emphasis on whatever seemed to be working would be BIG time news.

Becoming accustomed to different ways to eat, exercise, think, isn't always easy for many individuals and could be even more difficult in senior years. There are always conflicting reports that pop up confusing people even more. Is a high carb diet good? Is a high protein diet good? Is it better to be lean or a tad heavier as we age? Is intense exercise good or bad, will walking be as beneficial as running for heart health? It's not as easy as one would imagine.
We all do what we feel is the best for us as individuals....some agree with our choices and applaud us; some might not see why others don't or won't follow what is thought to be the "best" way to live. The human "condition" will never be perfect....genetics, environmental conditions, evolution just don't/won't let it be so.

[pooh]

And this study about genetic variants and cognitive decline.

We are indeed, a complicated species.


People born with certain gene more likely to suffer cognitive decline after heart surgery

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by pooh

Changes in the lifestyle MAY offer some potential for avoiding or forestalling mental deterioration. Not sure if the research says it will work for all because if it was so, more emphasis on whatever seemed to be working would be BIG time news.

It doesn't have to work for everyone in order to be worthwhile and no one expects it to work for everyone. If we all choose to be pessimistic about the value of healthy lifestyle choices, it won't work for anyone. Research indicates we could have a lot less people with Alzheimer's, judging by other countries and Adventists in our own country.

Becoming accustomed to different ways to eat, exercise, think, isn't always easy for many individuals and could be even more difficult in senior years.

Does it have to be easy? Let it work, or give it a chance, for those who are willing to put forth some effort. And it might be easier if we encourage one another rather than trying to be discouraging.

There are always conflicting reports that pop up confusing people even more. Is a high carb diet good? Is a high protein diet good? Is it better to be lean or a tad heavier as we age? Is intense exercise good or bad, will walking be as beneficial as running for heart health? It's not as easy as one would imagine.

Those of us who have put in a lot of time studying this will be glad to help out and thus eliminate a lot of the confusion.

We all do what we feel is the best for us as individuals....some agree with our choices and applaud us; some might not see why others don't or won't follow what is thought to be the "best" way to live. The human "condition" will never be perfect....genetics, environmental conditions, evolution just don't/won't let it be so.

If you are truly interested and doing what you believe is best, I'm not complaining about what you do. All I ask is that you not put up road-blocks for others who are earnestly looking for answers.

When you say, "we all do what we feel is the best for us as individuals", are you speaking for everyone? How do you know that to be a fact? There may be some who feel they can do better but are not sure how to go about it. Some people might appreciate some suggestions. Not everyone is the same.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by pooh

And this study about genetic variants and cognitive decline.

We are indeed, a complicated species.


People born with certain gene more likely to suffer cognitive decline after heart surgery

Thanks, that's an interesting article. It has been known for some time that if you have a certain gene (APOE4) you will likely be more susceptible to getting Alzheimer's dementia. For example: If you suffer a concussion or if you are obese, have diabetes, or have an operation, those things can turn the Alzheimer's gene on. All the more reason to be careful about everything we do.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by mikeod

It's important to note that the study does not deal with an overall loss of smell sensitivity, but a difference between left and right nostril sensitivity. And it right now only confirms a diagnosis. Further study is needed to determine if it is diagnostic. Also, the population studied was very small.

I understand that. I'm just saying that "at the time" it was my mom's only symptom and it presented itself when she was younger......years before she was actually diagnosed.......decades before, as a matter of fact.

She would always mention it to me , so she must have been concerned.
My brother would tell her she was zinc deficient.

She would say that if she had a gas leak she wouldn't be able to smell it.
I told her that she no longer had gas......in N.J., yes. In Vermont, no.

I probably just dismissed it at the time. Lack of a sense of smell seems a trivial concern.

However, many moons later, when I began to read about it as a "possible sign or precursor of Alzheimers" I always remembered her talking about it.

She also lost a lot of weight over the years and having always been a thin person anyway........lack of sense of smell hinders any enjoyment of food.

But, in my mind.........it was an early symptom. She was diagnosed in her early 80's and died at 91.........and it truly was "The Long Goodbye".