
Researchers at the University of Florida have created a simple and clever test using peanut butter that could help doctors detect Alzheimer’s disease early.
The study, led by Jennifer J. Stamps, was published in the Journal of Neurological Science and offers a new, non-invasive way to screen for this serious brain condition.
Finding Alzheimer’s early is very important. It allows patients to start treatment sooner, which can slow down the disease and improve their quality of life. Early detection also helps researchers test new treatments that may help in the future.
One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease is a change in the sense of smell. The part of the brain responsible for smell is called the olfactory cortex, and it’s one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s. Scientists have discovered that this damage often happens more on the left side than the right, which may lead to differences in how well each nostril can smell.
To test this idea, the research team created a simple experiment using peanut butter. They picked peanut butter because it has a strong smell and is easy to find in any kitchen.
The test was done on four groups of people: 18 with possible Alzheimer’s, 24 with mild cognitive problems, 26 with other types of dementia, and 26 healthy individuals. Each person was asked to close one nostril at a time and try to smell peanut butter from a small container.
The container had 14 grams of peanut butter and was slowly moved closer to the open nostril, one centimeter at a time, using a ruler. The researchers noted the exact distance where the person could first smell the peanut butter. Then, they repeated the test on the other nostril.
The results were very interesting. People with possible Alzheimer’s could smell the peanut butter much closer with their left nostril than their right. On average, the left nostril detected the smell at 5.1 cm, while the right nostril could smell it at 17.4 cm. This big difference was not seen in the other groups.
This shows that people with Alzheimer’s might have more damage on the left side of the brain that handles smell. The peanut butter test could be a quick and affordable way to find out if someone might be developing Alzheimer’s.
Because the test is simple, cheap, and doesn’t require any machines, it could be used in many different settings—like doctor’s offices or even at home under guidance. It could help spot Alzheimer’s early, allowing for better care and planning.
This new idea also shows how checking a person’s senses—like smell—might help identify brain diseases. By learning how Alzheimer’s affects the brain, scientists can look for more ways to catch it early and possibly treat it better.
While more research is still needed, the peanut butter test gives hope for a future where Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed earlier, leading to better outcomes for patients and their families.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about These places in U.S. have the most cases of Alzheimer’s disease and findings of Scientists confirm the link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about New Alzheimer’s treatment: anti-inflammatory drug may prevent memory loss and findings of The diabetes drug surprise: a possible shield against Alzheimer’s?
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