Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeod
It's important to note that the study does not deal with an overall loss of smell sensitivity, but a difference between left and right nostril sensitivity. And it right now only confirms a diagnosis. Further study is needed to determine if it is diagnostic. Also, the population studied was very small.
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Not only was it a very small group but there are many other variables that apparently were not controlled very well if at all.
Of the 24 patients tested who had mild cognitive impairment, which sometimes signals Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes turns out to be something else, about 10 patients showed a left nostril impairment and 14 patients did not. The researchers said more studies must be conducted to fully understand the implications.
Stamps and Heilman point out that this test could be used by clinics that don’t have access to the personnel or equipment to run other, more elaborate tests required for a specific diagnosis, which can lead to targeted treatment.