Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory and cognitive functions, like making decisions and understanding information. However, it also affects the senses, which can greatly impact daily routines, communication, and emotional well-being.

Several myALZteam members have shared their experiences with sensory loss and Alzheimer’s. One caregiver said, “My wife’s vision is affected by Alzheimer’s, and she’s just about blind. Her hearing is bad, and she will be needing hearing aids, too.”

Understanding how Alzheimer’s affects the senses can help caregivers give their loved ones better support.

Which Sense Is Impacted the Most?

When it comes to Alzheimer’s, any of the five senses can be affected. Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently, so it can be difficult to know which sense is most impacted. However, some research suggests that vision and smell can be some of the first senses affected. Both can be early indicators of the disease and cognitive decline.

Sensory Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease

Sensory changes in Alzheimer’s can show up early and progress in subtle but important ways. These changes can affect how people interact with their environment and other people. With Alzheimer’s, the brain disrupts how the senses process information, especially smell, sight, and hearing. When a person has trouble recognizing information that comes from the senses, it is called agnosia.

Sense of Smell

One of the earliest sensory changes in Alzheimer’s is loss of smell, known as anosmia. This is different from temporary loss of smell from a cold or the gradual decline in smell sensitivity that comes with aging.

Losing your sense of smell with Alzheimer’s is believed to be caused by the buildup of tau and amyloid-beta proteins in the brain. People with Alzheimer’s may not be able to detect smells or may misinterpret them. This may affect their appetite, or even their safety, if they’re not able to recognize smells such as smoke or spoiled food.

Vision

Vision loss is common, especially as you age. But people with certain forms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s, might experience vision changes that are related to brain processing and perception rather than to the eyes themselves. In other words, they may experience problems with vision even though their eyes are healthy.

Those with vision difficulties caused by Alzheimer’s may have trouble with depth perception, spatial awareness, or contrast. As a result, they might have issues using the stairs, reading, finding food on their plate, or seeing in poorly lit areas, for example. “Vision can change a lot,” wrote one myALZteam member. “I noticed my husband doesn't look down anymore. He trips and bangs his legs on things.”

Visual impairment can have a big impact on a person’s ability to complete daily tasks, recognize friends and family members, and safely move through their surroundings.

Hearing

Like with other senses, it’s common to gradually lose hearing ability as you age. There are two main types of age-related hearing loss: peripheral and central hearing loss.

Peripheral hearing loss happens when the ears themselves don’t detect sounds very well. Treatment for this may involve wearing hearing aids. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, people with peripheral hearing loss may have a higher risk of developing dementia. The exact reason for this is still unknown.

Central hearing loss happens when the brain has trouble processing sounds, so it’s difficult for people to understand speech or tell different sounds apart. This type of hearing loss might be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s. This is because Alzheimer’s can affect parts of the brain responsible for perceiving sound. People with Alzheimer’s may feel more isolated socially, as they struggle to follow conversations.

Taste

While less common, taste can be impacted by Alzheimer’s, too. Changes in taste may lead to reduced appetite and weight loss, as people may no longer enjoy certain foods or may find that food tastes different. This can happen when areas of the brain in charge of processing taste and making decisions are impaired by Alzheimer’s.

As one myALZteam member shared, “I’ve noticed that my mother’s tastes have changed, and that sometimes she has food she liked in the past, but now says she doesn’t like it. Maybe I’ll switch up the things she is having and see if it makes a difference.”

“My mom does this occasionally,” another member replied. “She’s started to eat things she hated before, but she also refuses to eat at times, saying it ‘doesn't taste good’ or 'I don't eat that.’”

Touch

The sense of touch can also be affected. This can sometimes make it difficult for people to feel different textures. Lowered touch sensitivity can also make it hard to sense pain or temperature, which can pose potential safety risks. This can make some daily tasks, such as cleaning and cooking, more challenging.

How To Navigate Sensory Changes With Alzheimer’s

If you notice changes in any of your senses or those of your loved ones, talk to your doctor. Together, you can figure out whether the change is due to normal aging or Alzheimer’s, and make changes to your care plan if needed. It’s important to have regular checkups with your care team, including your eye doctor.

Although some changes to the senses may not be reversible, there are ways you can improve your quality of life with these symptoms.

Make Changes to Your Environment

If you or your loved one is experiencing sensory changes with Alzheimer’s, you may be able to make some changes to the environment around you that can help. For example, when it comes to hearing, you can try to reduce background noise by lowering the TV volume or turning it off when you’re not watching it. For vision changes, make sure your home is well lit, so it’s easy to see your surroundings.

Use Devices

Devices and aids like hearing aids, glasses, and automatic lights can be helpful for people who are experiencing sensory issues. Talk to your doctor to find out what resources are available for your specific symptoms. They may know some devices that are low-cost or covered by insurance.

Improve Communication

Taking the time to properly communicate with your loved one with Alzheimer’s can make all the difference. When you speak to your loved one, try using hand gestures and facial expressions to help them understand what you’re saying. You can also communicate your actions, like letting them know when you’re leaving the room.

By understanding these sensory changes and how to manage them, you and your loved ones can find the right support. There are steps you can take today to improve your quality of life while experiencing sensory changes.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Have you noticed changes in your senses since your Alzheimer’s diagnosis? Do you have any tips for navigating sensory changes? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.