Loss of familiar smells first sign of Alzheimer’s disease?

An inability to correctly identify familiar odors may be an early indication of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers reported in the January issue of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

It appears that even before any signs of dementia, early sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty identifying familiar odors. They relate this difficulty with a buildup of ‘tangles’ in the brain that appear in early Alzheimer’s disease patients.

This is just one earlier symptom to watch out for. Here is a list of other early warning signs:

· Memory loss. Now, we all forget things occasionally, but forgetting new information often is something to pay attention to.

· Forgetting how to do familiar tasks, such as prepare a meal or placing a phone call.

· Problem with language. Now, we all forget names or simple words, but does it happen often?

· Misplacing things. Who has NOT misplaced something? But, if you find your toothbrush in the dryer, this is not normal.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, click here;

http://www.alz.org/index.asp