health / 10.29.13 A tablespoon of peanut butter and a ruler are unexpected tools to diagnose Alzheimers . This neurodegenerative disease is difficult to detect before symptoms appear. Now researchers at the Smell and Taste Center of the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida, believe they have found a simple solution . The sense of smell is associated with the first cranial nerve, one of the first nerves to be affected by Alzheimers. If impairment is detected , it can indicate the presence of the disease before the patient experiences memory loss. Peanut butter , for its pure smell , is ideal for testing, because its scent is detected only by the first cranial nerve. During the study , researchers asked participants to close their eyes and cover one nostril . Subsequently, peanut butter approached the nostril discovered and asked the patient if he perceived their smell. They repeated the experiment with the other nostril . Of the participants , 24 were suffering from mild cognitive impairment ( MCI) , a condition characterized by loss of memory. Not all people with MCI develop Alzheimers, but have a higher risk . Scientists found that people in early stages of Alzheimers, showed a dramatic difference in the ability to smell the two nostrils . The left only detected the smell of hasta10cm distance closer than the right. Of those who had MCI , only 18 had problems with the left nostril sniffing . The researchers speculate that develop Alzheimers. For now, the only test used to confirm diagnosis , which will help in developing countries and in rural communities due to the accessibility of the team . Researchers continue to investigate the effectiveness of the test in the hope that can predict Alzheimers.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:26:43 +0000
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