Posts Tagged ‘smell’

New research published in this month’s Journal of Neuroscience shows that loss of smell could be a sign of early Alzheimer’s disease.  Although loss of smell is known to occur in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers are now showing that a subtle decrease could be an early indicator of the illness. By studying mice, scientists found a direct link between the development of amyloid plaques (protein deposit in the brain that can be seen in Alzheimer’s patients) and worsening sense of smell. The researchers found that the plaques first develop in the part of the mouse brain that’s devoted to the sense of smell. Even a tiny bit of the plaque was enough to affect smell. “This is a revealing finding because, unlike a brain scan, a laboratory-designed olfactory test may be an inexpensive alternative to early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s,” said study author Daniel W. Wesson of the NYU School of Medicine. [via Yahoo! News]

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Most of us know about the dangers of second-hand smoke. But have you heard about third-hand smoke? If not, you’re not alone. A new Harvard study suggests that less than half of all US households have heard of the term, which refers to the residual toxic chemicals that can cling to people’s hair, clothing, furniture, carpeting, and other household surfaces, even after second-hand smoke has cleared the room. It’s what one smells when someone who was just smoking walks into a room, or when you enter a hotel room where people were smoking. Third-hand smoke is especially harmful to children and infants because they are more likely to inhale the chemicals when held in close proximity to a smoker, or someone who was exposed to second-hand smoke. Children are also more likely to touch and lick household surfaces, thus ingesting the toxins, which pose a cancer risk. Therefore, simply airing out a room, or even quitting smoking, may not completely protect children from the dangers of smoking. Parents should be cognizant of potential sources of third-hand smoke. A good tip is to change your clothing prior to cradling your child if you’ve been exposed to cigarette smoke.

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