Early Sign of Alzheimer’s You Might Notice in the Shower: What to Watch For

An Early Sign of Alzheimer’s You Might Notice in the Shower: What to Watch For

It’s commonly believed that the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are all about memory — forgetting a name, losing track of a conversation, or momentarily not recognizing familiar places. However, new research suggests that one of the earliest warning signs could appear in a surprisingly ordinary moment — while you’re taking a shower.

Yes, you read that right. A simple change in the way you perceive the scent of your soap or shampoo might be a signal worth paying attention to.

When You Stop Recognizing the Smell of Soap

Picture this: you open your favorite bottle of shower gel — the same scent you’ve loved for years — but suddenly, you can’t smell it. Or maybe the fragrance seems faint, distorted, or oddly unfamiliar.

This seemingly minor change could be an early sign of cognitive decline, according to Professor Davangere Devanand, a psychiatrist and neurologist at Columbia University in New York.

Why? Because our sense of smell is closely tied to memory and emotion. The brain regions responsible for recognizing and processing odors — particularly the olfactory bulb and entorhinal cortex — are among the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

The Simple but Telling “Smell Test”

In a long-term study lasting eight years and involving over 1,000 participants, researchers conducted a simple olfactory test. Participants were asked to identify familiar scents such as soap, smoke, rose, leather, and lemon.

The findings were striking: individuals who had trouble recognizing or naming these common odors were significantly more likely to develop cognitive impairment in the following years.

A score of fewer than 8 correct answers out of 12 was considered a red flag. When combined with a brief memory assessment, this “smell test” proved almost as effective as certain MRI scans or complex biochemical tests in predicting early brain changes.

That makes it a promising tool for early detection — one that’s simple, inexpensive, and completely noninvasive.

Why the Nose Knows More Than You Think

Loss of smell (known as anosmia) is not unique to Alzheimer’s — it can also occur with age, after viral infections, or in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. However, when combined with subtle memory lapses or changes in daily habits, it can offer an important clue about what’s happening inside the brain.

Scientists believe that the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles — the hallmark proteins of Alzheimer’s — begins years before noticeable memory problems appear. Because the olfactory system is directly linked to these brain areas, smell changes can act as an early “alarm bell.”

What You Can Do

If you notice that familiar scents seem weaker, distorted, or absent — and especially if this is accompanied by confusion or forgetfulness — it’s a good idea to consult a doctor.

Early screening and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a balanced Mediterranean-style diet, mental stimulation, and social engagement can all help delay or reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Simple steps like testing your sense of smell every few months — for example, by sniffing coffee, citrus, or soap — can also help you track changes over time.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes, the body whispers before it shouts. Losing your sense of smell while showering might seem like a small detail, but for scientists, it’s a vital clue.

Paying attention to these subtle signals could make all the difference in catching Alzheimer’s disease early — when prevention and treatment have the greatest impact.