Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease in its earliest stages is beneficial for patients of this progressive brain disorder and their families.

Now it may be easier to identify one of the earliest symptoms by testing a person’s sense of smell.

According to a new study at Rush University Medical Center, difficulty identifying common smells is an early indicator of Alzheimer’s.

In the study, nearly 600 older adults, with an average age of 79, were asked to identify a dozen familiar smells: onion, lemon, cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, rose, banana, pineapple, soap, paint thinner, gasoline and smoke.

Evidence suggests that even before symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease develop, changes may occur in the parts of the brain that are associated with processing smells. This information could lead to simple office-based scratch-and-sniff tests for early diagnosis.

Difficulty with smell has also been identified as an early indicator for Parkinson’s Disease. Keep in mind that losing your sense of smell can also be a side effect of medications including some antidepressants, antihistamines and anti-inflammatories. It may also be due to a common cold or allergy.