Researchers Develop New Test to Predict Alzheimer's Disease

This is the VOA Special English HEALTH REPORT.

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people around the world.  American researchers say the disease will affect more than one hundred million people worldwide by the year twenty fifty.  That would be four times the current number.

Researchers and doctors have been studying Alzheimer's patients for a century.  Yet the cause and cure for the mental sickness are still unknown.  However, some researchers have made important steps towards understanding it.

Several early signs of the disease involve memory and thought processes.  At first, patients have trouble remembering little things.  Later, they have trouble remembering more important things, such as the names of their children.

There are also some physical tests that might show who is at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.  The tests look for proteins in brain and spinal cord fluid.  The proteins appear to be found only in people with the disease.  The protein tests correctly identify the presence of the disease in about ninety percent of patients.

Now, a much simpler physical test to predict Alzheimer's risk has been developed.  Researchers found that trouble with the sense of smell can be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's.  Using this information, they developed a test in which people were asked to identify twelve familiar smells.  These smells included cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, paint thinner, and smoke.

The study continued for five years.  During this period, the same people were asked to take several tests measuring their memory and thought abilities.  Fifty percent of those who could not identify at least four of the smells in the first test had trouble with their memory and thinking in the next five years.

Another study has shown a possible way to reduce a person's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease in old age.  Researchers in Chicago, Illinois found that people who use their brains more often are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.  Those who read a newspaper, or play chess or word games are about three times less likely to develop the condition.

Researchers say they still do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease.  But they say these findings might help prevent the disease in the future.

And that's the VOA Special English HEALTH REPORT, written by Erin Braswell.  You can download scripts and audio from our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com.  I'm Bob Doughty.