Loss of taste and smell.

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OldArkie Asked October 2023

Loss of taste and smell.

My mid stage AD wife has had unusual and erratic eating habits for quite a while and I thought it was just another symptom of the disease. But I have recently discovered she has no sense of taste or smell! I asked how she knows if she likes her food and she said the way it feels in her mouth!!! The thought occurred to me that we both had mild cases of Covid when it first started spreading and I lost my sense of taste and smell for several months but over a year or so, it returned, although not as acute as before I had Covid, but I have no idea when she lost her senses of taste/smell. I would like to know if anyone else has had an experience with an AD patient losing their taste/smell ability that didn't have Covid?

Alzheimer's & Dementia Diet & Nutrition

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score 1 · Answer 1

Loss of Smell and loss of taste are one of the early signs of a Dementia. Thats why lose suffering from Dementia like sweets. They seem to be able to taste sugar and its instant gratification.

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score 2 · Answer 2

Loss of sense of taste and smell is common in covid. You would not be able to know, as you say, when this occurred for her, or whether or not covid is involved. Loss of taste and smell also is common for some Dementias, including Lewy's.
The internet is full of cases and information of loss of senses of taste and smell in the elderly, so you can find a lot online. For instance:

"Loss of Taste and Smell - Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/16708
Aging often contributes to a diminished ability to smell and taste. Other causes include: 1. Brain injuries. 2. Cancer treatments like radiation therapy. 3. Dry mouth from Sjogren’s syndromeor other conditions. 4. Exposure to chemicals. 5. Gum disease(gingivitis) and other dental problems. 6. Medications, … See more".

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score 4 · Answer 3

It's been proven "that people with Alzheimer's can lose their sense of smell and taste many months or even years before other symptoms, such as memory loss become apparent."
The loss of smell and taste is often a precursor to dementia.

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score 2 · Answer 4

This can also be a side effect of some medications.

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Good to know, cw.

I wouldn’t have thought of it being related to meds. I do know that my mother in law said that everything tasted different when she was receiving chemotherapy for her lymphoma.

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score 3 · Answer 5

For what it’s worth, post-covid I can taste but I can’t smell.

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score 2 · Answer 6

Old,

Sounds awful. No wonder that some elderly people don’t have any desire to eat. They aren’t able to enjoy taste or find pleasure from eating anymore. Very sad 😞.

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score 2 · Answer 7

As the dementia progresses it affects those areas of the brain that register smell, taste, fullness, and hunger.
My mom just had covid and her appetite, which was waning, is now pretty much gone, so I think the covid made it worse.
I can sympathize--it was very odd after I had covid to make something for dinner and ...nothing. No taste at all. It really does focus you on the textures.

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score 2 · Answer 8

Yes, it’s a symptom of dementia.

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score 1 · Answer 9

My dad passed away in 2005 so no covid, nor did he have dementia. However he did have to take very strong meds for a period of time. He lost a great deal of weight. One day I asked him how something tasted to him. He laughed and said “Taste, I haven’t been able to taste anything in awhile”. He had never mentioned this to us before. But he did enjoy certain textures. Ice cream was one which helped him gain his weight back.

My FIL, also passed precovid, couldn’t smell and could not believe others could.🙄

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Loss of taste and smell.

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