A new peel-and-sniff card was tested by 180 adults, and the results showed those with mild cognitive impairment had significantly more trouble identifying and remembering odors.
Losing your sense of smell can be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders.
Researchers say they’ve developed a new peel-and-sniff test that can be easily taken at home.
The senior author says, “Early detection of cognitive impairment could help us identify people who are at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and intervene years before memory symptoms begin.”
The study included 180 English- and Spanish-speaking adults with self-reported memory problems, mild impairment or normal cognition. The participants were asked to peel and sniff odors off a card either at home or at a clinic. Some were observed or assisted, while others worked alone.
Overall, the results showed odor identification, memory and discrimination declined with age. But older adults with mild cognitive impairment had significantly lower scores than those who were cognitively normal.
The results were similar across English and Spanish speakers, and participants performed the test equally successfully with and without assistance.
The authors say these findings suggest smell testing could be a cost-effective, noninvasive way to predict neurodegenerative disease in many populations.
Additional studies are needed to confirm the results.
Source: Scientific Reports
Author Affiliations: Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, AROMHA Inc, Endicott College
Disclosure: Mark Albers has a financial interest in Aromha, Inc., a company developing scent-based screens for neurodegenerative disorders and COVID-19.
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