Sniffing out those at risk of Alzheimer's
(Filed: 13/12/2004)

Scientists have revealed a list of 10 smells, including lemons, strawberries
and leather, which can be used to help predict which patients will develop
Alzheimer's disease.

The inability to smell certain odours can determine which patients with
minimal or mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer's, the
researchers said.

They have now come up with a top 10 of smells which they believe are the
best predictors of the disease.

These are:

a.. strawberry
a.. smoke
a.. soap
a.. menthol
a.. clove
a.. pineapple
a.. natural gas
a.. lilac
a.. lemon
a.. leather
About 150 patients with mild cognitive impairment were tested using the 10
odours every six months, alongside 63 healthy elderly subjects who were
tested annually for five years.

The researchers, from the New York State Psychiatric Institute, said their
odour identification test was a strong predictor of Alzheimer's.

Dr Davangere Devanand, professor of clinical psychiatry and neurology at
Columbia University, said: "Narrowing the list of odours can potentially
expedite screening and health with early diagnosis."

The researcher said that studies involving the brains of Alzheimer's
patients showed that nerve pathways involved in perceiving and recognising
odours were affected at a very early stage.

"Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is critical for patients and their
families to receive the most beneficial treatment and medications.

"While currently there is no cure for the disease, early diagnosis and
treatment can help patients and their families to better plan their lives,"
Dr Devanand said.

Estimates suggest that two per cent to five per cent of people over 65 and
up to 20 per cent of those over 85 suffer from Alzheimer's, a progressive
brain disorder which gradually destroys the memory.

The Alzheimer's Society estimates there are currently more than 750,000
people in the UK with dementia of some sort.