Researchers Develop Smell Test to Detect Alzheimer's Risk

Recent research highlights advances in the early detection and understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists at Mass General Hospital have developed a smell test that may help identify individuals at risk for Alzheimer's and other memory disorders by detecting dysfunction in the brain's olfactory circuits, which are early markers of disease. Another study from University College London found that navigational errors, particularly difficulties with turning while walking, are early symptoms of Alzheimer's that can be identified using virtual reality. Columbia University research suggests that Alzheimer's risk factors and biomarkers can be present and impact cognitive performance as early as a person's 20s or 30s, emphasizing the need for early prevention strategies. In Kentucky, new treatments like lecanemab, which targets amyloid plaques in the brain, offer hope in slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients. These findings collectively underscore the importance of early detection, innovative diagnostic tools, and emerging therapies for Alzheimer's disease.