Researchers have developed a new
non-invasive method to identify people at the risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease on the basis of their ability to recognize and recall odors. The protocol
testing the ability to recognize, remember and distinguish between odors was
able to identify older individuals who – according to genetic, imaging and more
detailed memory tests – were at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. There is
increasing evidence that the neurodegeneration behind Alzheimer’s disease
starts at least 10 years before the onset of memory symptoms. The development
of a digitally enabled, affordable, accessible and non-invasive means to
identify healthy individuals at risk is a critical step to developing therapies
that slow down or halt Alzheimer’s disease progression. The battery of four
tests developed by the MGH team addresses both olfactory and cognitive
functions – and involves participants being presented with different smells for
two seconds each, and then asked to choose from a group of words, one that best
describes each odour. The study recruited 183 participants, most of who were
enrolled in ongoing studies at the MGH-based Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease
Research Centre.
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