What are the risks of my developing Alzheimers, and should I consult my doctor about my loss of smell?
Two out of three people who lose the ability to smell have had this problem caused by nose or sinus disease or by head trauma. Examples of nose and sinus problems that can result in lost smell (sometimes with long-lasting effects) are nasal polyps, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, and Sjogren’s syndrome (dryness of the mouth, eyes, and nose). Medicines (particularly blood pressure medicines such as beta blocker medicines and ace-inhibitor medicines, or in some cases thyroid medication) are sometimes the cause of changes in smell. Aging can also result in smell loss — a modest change in your smelling is a normal part of aging, but it is not usually very noticeable. You are correct that Alzheimer’s disease can result in noticeable abnormal smelling ability. This is also the case for Parkinson’s disease. Changes in smelling occur very gradually in these conditions. For most people with one of these illnesses, problems with smell are not obvious until the neurologic disease
