Researchers Develop At-Home Test to ID Those at Risk of Alzheimer’s Years Before Symptoms Appear

When it comes to early detection of cognitive impairment, a new study suggests that the nose knows. Researchers from Harvard-affiliated Mass General Brigham developed olfactory tests — in which participants sniff odor labels that have been placed on a card — to assess people’s ability to discriminate, identify, and remember odors. They found that participants could successfully take the test at home and that older adults with cognitive impairment scored lower on the test than cognitively normal adults.