How Peanut Butter Detects Alzheimer’s Disease

Peanut butter can detect whether or not a person has Alzheimer’s disease. An article published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences in 2013 determined that smelling peanut butter can determine whether or not a person is experiencing memory loss. Which happens to be the earliest symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2013 Jennifer J Stamps published an article based on research conducted about the use of peanut butter to detect Alzheimer’s disease. Her research found that patients with Alzheimer’s were not able to smell peanut butter as well from their left nostril as compared to their right. When a person’s cognitive ability declines (dementia, Alzheimer’s) one of the first symptoms is a decline in smell. 

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How We Smell

The olfactory nerve is the first cranial nerve and consists of fibers used to sense smell. It’s located within the upper part of the nasal cavity. When an odor is detected the fibers transmit nerve pulses to the central nervous system. The pulses are processed and identified as smell. The system identifies the different smells based on previous experience and memory.

44 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s with 5.8 of them being Americans. 

The loss of smell is very much an early warning sign of memory loss and potentially, Alsheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that affects memory and thinking. It’s irreversible and progressive which means that there is no cure and it gets worse over time. It usually occurs in people in their mid to late 60’s and is the most common cause of dementia.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s was first identified in 1906 when Dr. Alzheimer was examining the death of a female patient. The patient suffered memory loss, difficulties speaking and irrational behavior prior to her death. Upon examination of her brain, it was discovered that she had abnormal clumps and tangled fibers. Both of which are now identifiable traits of Alzheimer’s. 

Of course, a decline of smell does not automatically mean that a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Other factors such as trauma or damage to the olfactory nerves, allergies, advanced age, deviated septum, zinc deficiency, poor nutrition, multiple sclerosis or diabetes can all cause a loss of smell. For this reason, the peanut butter smell test is used after other means of testing has been conducted to rule out alternative possibilities and help narrow down the symptoms.

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Even though we hail Jennifer Stamps as a peanut butter hero, several other researchers weren’t too keen on the peanut butter test. It was seen as too variable and not sufficient enough to make a proper diagnosis. This is because there are many reasons a person’s smell might decline and the smell test was only conducted AFTER official Alzheimer’s diagnosis’.

To be fair, the peanut butter smell test works using ANY pungent odor including cinnamon or lemon. Perhaps Jennifer Stamps used peanut butter because she loves it. Or maybe she used it because the smell is pleasing. Full disclosure, we are a tiny bit bias over here at Peanut Butter Pleasure but at least we can be honest with you about it. 

Disclosure

Anytime you believe that there is something wrong with your health it’s always best to seek professional medical assistance. If your sense of smell has changed go in for testing so that you can be properly diagnosed.