Multisensory Therapy is the answer to Alzheimer's disease
For the past decade neuroscientists have put in evidence that one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease, the worst degenerative condition know to mankind, is the deterioration of the sense of smell.
Smell and memory are tied up by a chemical bond called Dopamine. Dopamine is one of the neuromediators transferring messages from one neurone to the next. Dopamine transfers information dealing with
motivation
control of movement
memory
sensation of pleasure
which are the keys of human development and sense of happiness.
Azheimer's is a deterioration of mental functions all the way to motor function.
The deterioration of the sense of smell is key in the slow decrease of production of Dopamine.
Today, neuroscience has finally determined that it is possible to run early tests to diagnose Alzheimer's early : a simple smell test where the subject is given odorants and has to recognize them.
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This is a very simple test which anyone can run at home at no cost while Dopamine tests are costly and complicated and require a prescription writen by a neurologist. Unfortunately, the patient seen by the neurologist has reached a stage of severity where the recognition of odors is of minimal interest.
Once the risk has been evaluated and far before the symptoms are severe, it is possible to address the key function : olfaction, and prevent further deterioration. No treatment seriously takes in consideration the repair of the sense of smell besides the Multisensory Brain Therapy which places smelling at the centre of most of its treatments.
check : www.multisensorytherapy.org
There is such a logic in a project to repair the sense of smell, within a general projet of brain mending, that it is very concerning that experts or families are not looking at this option with the outmost serious.
To smell is more than a pleasant dimension of life, it is a way to repair brain damage and I hope to bring more information in those pages to propagate both knowledge and hope, leading to efficient action to eradicate Alzheimer's disease and the misery it brings to the patient and his or her family.
references
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010 Apr;81(4):396-9. Epub 2009 Dec 3.
Olfactory testing combined with dopamine transporter imaging as a method to detect prodromal Parkinson's disease.Ponsen MM, Stoffers D, Wolters ECh, Booij J, Berendse HW.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 January; 78(1): 30–35. Published online 2006 September 29. The relationship between cerebral Alzheimer's disease pathology and odour identification in old age |
