If you have an older loved one, you may have noticed that there can be an overall loss of different sensory abilities as they age. While some of this can be a common part of aging, it’s not always a healthy part of aging. For example, there is new evidence out there that a declining sense of smell can be correlated to an increased risk of depression.
Loss of sense of smell is referred to as hyposmia. In its most advanced stages, it is called anosmia. It might be easy to dismiss this as normal, but new research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine indicates that declining loss of smell is closely aligned with increased feelings of depression. A link between declining smell and risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease has long been established, but this other aspect of overall health is a more recent observation.
Johns Hopkins researchers also looked at why this might be the case. While they didn’t establish a definite answer, they did come up with some potential answers. These included cognitive decline (such as what you would see with dementia) and increased inflammation within the body. Both can be quite problematic for seniors and lead to other health issues along the way.
It’s not uncommon to see mental health issues lead to other issues among the elderly. There is a lot of research out there that indicates that poor mental health leads to poor physical health. It’s also not uncommon to see depression linked with things like dementia, disability, and more. Depression isn’t just feeling down. It’s about a loss of interest in life. It can be a very serious health concern in both the young and the old.
If you have a loved one that is in need of senior care because of dementia or another life change that makes day to day tasks harder or potentially unsafe, you’ve come to the right place for guidance. Not only do we offer in-home care for seniors in the Bay Area, we also have a staff with years of experience and expertise. This is why we offer a free consultation service for anyone interested. It’s a tiny way to add some extra value to our community. Yes, we’d love it if you were to decide that we were the care service that was perfect for your family’s unique situation. But we also know that this isn’t the right choice for everyone.
If that’s the case, we’re equally happy to help get you pointed in the right direction. Our caregivers aren’t going to pressure you into something that’s not going to be beneficial or realistic for your needs or circumstances. This is meant to be an educational experience. There’s no risk or obligation. It’s a conversation designed to help shed some light on your needs and how care can help meet them. It’s a way to help you be a better consumer and get connected to the resources that will help you out the most.
Please get in touch if you’d like to talk more.
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