Today’s Question?
How could DH with VD smell the bread baking but cannot smell the urine soaked clothes he is wearing? Just curious 🤷🏻♀️
Comments
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It's such a strange disease. We encounter new adventures every day. It might be time for Depends. But, how does one cross that hurdle?
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Fresh bread has a strong, distinctive, and often emotionally meaningful scent. The brain areas that process smell are closely tied to memory and emotion, and long-term memories (like baking bread) can remain relatively preserved longer in Alzheimer’s.
Urine odor, on the other hand, may be:
Less distinctive to that person. Something the brain has learned to tune out over time (especially if it’s frequent). Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect the nose—it affects how the brain recognizes and assigns meaning to smells. So a person might: Detect a smell physically, But not identify it correctly or understand its significance They may smell something unpleasant but not recognize it as urine or as a problem that needs action.
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Thank you for your question. I know you posted it in all seriousness and I certainly experienced similar behavior from my dear wife. But, just your phrasing brought a smile today. A smile in the midst of the nightmare facing us. You got a good answer to the likely science for your question but thank you for posting it as you did. Good luck as you move ahead in caring for your dear husband. Try to keep your fresh and light attitude, it will serve you well in the days ahead.
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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