Smell Test May Predict Alzheimer's
(Washington, Reuters Health, 12/14/04)

Dr. Davangere Devanand of New York’s Columbia University, and team, ran twice-yearly tests on 150 patients with minimal to mild cognitive impairment and 63 healthy seniors. The investigators found that patients with early Alzheimer’s disease had difficulty distinguishing ten specific odors: strawberry, smoke, soap, menthol, clove, pineapple, natural gas, lilac, lemon and leather. These results reinforce previous findings that, at an early stage, the condition affects the nerve pathways for smell. Based on this information, scientists speculate that a simple sniff test may expedite early identification of Alzheimer’s disease.