Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered a surprising and simple way to help detect Alzheimer’s disease—using a spoonful of peanut butter.
This low-cost test could help doctors spot signs of Alzheimer’s early, which may lead to better care and treatment for people affected by the disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that causes memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior. One of the earliest parts of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s is the olfactory cortex. This area helps us process smells. Because of this, changes in the sense of smell can be an early warning sign of the disease.
Scientists also know that Alzheimer’s can affect one side of the brain more than the other—especially the left side. This may lead to a difference in how each nostril detects smells.
In this study, led by researcher Jennifer J. Stamps and her team, 94 participants were tested using peanut butter and a ruler. The group included people with Alzheimer’s, people with mild memory problems (called mild cognitive impairment), others with different types of dementia, and healthy individuals.
Here’s how the test worked: participants closed their eyes and mouth and blocked one nostril. Then, a container of peanut butter was slowly moved closer to the open nostril, one centimeter at a time, during each exhale. When the person said they could smell the peanut butter, the distance was recorded. The test was then repeated on the other nostril.
The results showed something interesting. People with Alzheimer’s had a much harder time smelling through their left nostril compared to their right.
On average, they could detect the peanut butter at just 5.1 centimeters on the left side, but 17.4 centimeters on the right. This big difference was not seen in people without Alzheimer’s or those with other types of memory issues.
This simple test shows promise as a quick and affordable way to help doctors detect Alzheimer’s disease. It doesn’t require special tools—just a ruler and some peanut butter. Unlike many other medical tests, it is non-invasive, easy to do, and inexpensive. That makes it ideal for use in clinics or even in research studies.
Early detection of Alzheimer’s is very important. The earlier it is diagnosed, the sooner doctors can begin treatment or offer support to patients and their families. It may also help researchers find better ways to slow or stop the disease before it gets worse.
However, the researchers say this peanut butter smell test should not be used on its own to diagnose Alzheimer’s. It should be used together with other memory and brain tests to confirm the diagnosis. Still, the test’s ability to show differences in smell sensitivity may be a useful tool in the early detection of the disease.
This creative approach to detecting Alzheimer’s was published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences. It offers a new way to think about how simple, everyday tools—like peanut butter—could help us understand and identify complex brain diseases.
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