Correction Notice (25 August 2021): A previous version of this article was entitled “HERE’S HOW YOU CAN USE PEANUT BUTTER TO DIAGNOSE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE!” and the title has since been updated . The previous title lacked context and implied that the scent test was a valid procedure for diagnosing Alzheimer’s when this is not the case. The body of the article has also been updated to more accurately portray the findings from the studies.
Alzheimer’s is a devastating degenerative disease that affects more than six million Americans. Interestingly, a couple of studies were conducted in 2013 and 2015, that found an odor-detecting test using peanut butter might be a way to achieve early diagnosis. This is how it works.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly takes away a person’s memory, ability to think, and eventually perform even the most basic tasks. Currently, it is ranked as the 6th-leading cause of death in the United States and largely affects people aged 65 and older. (1)
Alzheimer’s (named after the physician who discovered it), is characterized by abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of proteins and fibers in the brain. These are known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. They are what eventually cause the lack of ability to function normally and even speak.
Another aspect of Alzheimer’s is the loss of connection between nerve cells in the brain. These cells transmit messages to the rest of the body’s muscles and organs. Now, we know that there are many complex brain changes that occur over time with this disease. (2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXv3mHs9AU
A 2013 study done by the University of Florida found that peanut butter might be helpful in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. They published their findings in the Journal of Neurological Sciences. Jennifer Camps, the lead on the small study, noticed that patients in the neurology lab she was working in were not tested on their sense of smell. The ability to smell is associated with the first cranial nerve and is often one of the first things to be affected in cognitive decline. (4)
She and her colleagues developed a simple and inexpensive test using peanut butter and a ruler. The patients closed their eyes and mouth and blocked one nostril. A clinician then opened a jar of peanut butter and held the ruler next to the patient’s open nostril. They then slowly moved the peanut butter one centimeter at a time while the patient was breathing out. They continued this until the patient was able to smell the peanut butter. They then repeated this with the other nostril.
They found that patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s had quite a difference in detecting the peanut butter between their left and right nostrils. The left nostril required the peanut butter to be on average 10 centimeters closer in order to detect it than the right. This did not occur with patients with other types of dementia.
"At the moment, we can use this test to confirm diagnosis," Stamps said. "But we plan to study patients with mild cognitive impairment to see if this test might be used to predict which patients are going to get Alzheimer's disease."
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly takes away a person’s memory, ability to think, and eventually perform even the most basic tasks. Currently, it is ranked as the 6th-leading cause of death in the United States and largely affects people aged 65 and older. (1)
Alzheimer’s (named after the physician who discovered it), is characterized by abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of proteins and fibers in the brain. These are known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. They are what eventually cause the lack of ability to function normally and even speak.
Another aspect of Alzheimer’s is the loss of connection between nerve cells in the brain. These cells transmit messages to the rest of the body’s muscles and organs. Now, we know that there are many complex brain changes that occur over time with this disease. (2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXv3mHs9AU
Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. That being said, in recent years scientists have made advancements in testing and treatment. This means that they can catch it sooner and improve the lives of those living with the disease. Depending on when they are diagnosed, people can live with Alzheimer’s for as little as three years and as much as 10.Warning Signs For Alzheimer’s Disease
There are several signs and symptoms that you or someone you love may have developed Alzheimer’s disease. These include (3):- Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions.
- Trouble handling money and paying bills.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
- Decreased or poor judgment.
- Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
- Changes in mood, personality, or behavior.
The Peanut Butter Test
A 2013 study done by the University of Florida found that peanut butter might be helpful in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. They published their findings in the Journal of Neurological Sciences. Jennifer Camps, the lead on the small study, noticed that patients in the neurology lab she was working in were not tested on their sense of smell. The ability to smell is associated with the first cranial nerve and is often one of the first things to be affected in cognitive decline. (4)
She and her colleagues developed a simple and inexpensive test using peanut butter and a ruler. The patients closed their eyes and mouth and blocked one nostril. A clinician then opened a jar of peanut butter and held the ruler next to the patient’s open nostril. They then slowly moved the peanut butter one centimeter at a time while the patient was breathing out. They continued this until the patient was able to smell the peanut butter. They then repeated this with the other nostril.
They found that patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s had quite a difference in detecting the peanut butter between their left and right nostrils. The left nostril required the peanut butter to be on average 10 centimeters closer in order to detect it than the right. This did not occur with patients with other types of dementia.
"At the moment, we can use this test to confirm diagnosis," Stamps said. "But we plan to study patients with mild cognitive impairment to see if this test might be used to predict which patients are going to get Alzheimer's disease."
