Alzheimer’s breakthrough as quick test could detect early signs

A quick and minimally invasive nasal swab could transform how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed. The breakthrough could potentially identify the condition years before symptoms such as memory loss and confusion begin, according to new research. Scientists have developed a novel technique that collects cells from deep inside the nose, an area rich in smell-detecting nerve cells, and analyses their genetic activity.

These cells appear to carry early biological signals linked to Alzheimer’s, offering a promising new route for early detection. The research builds on mounting evidence that the sense of smell is closely tied to the early stages of Alzheimer’s. A declining sense of smell is often one of the first warning signs, reflecting damage in brain regions affected early in the disease.

In the UK, around 900,000 people are living with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for roughly two-thirds of cases. That number is expected to rise sharply as the population ages.

Despite its prevalence, diagnosing Alzheimer’s remains complex and often slow. Patients typically begin by reporting memory concerns to their GP, followed by referrals to specialist memory clinics.

Diagnosis can involve cognitive assessments, brain imaging such as MRI or PET scans, blood tests, and sometimes invasive procedures like lumbar punctures. By the time the disease is confirmed, significant brain damage has usually already occurred.

The new nasal swab method aims to change that.

“We want to be able to confirm Alzheimer’s very early, before damage has a chance to build up in the brain,” said Professor Bradley Goldstein of the Duke University School of Medicine, one of the study’s authors. “If we can diagnose people early enough, we might be able to start therapies that prevent them from ever developing clinical Alzheimer’s.”

The experimental procedure involves applying a numbing spray before inserting a small brush into the upper nasal cavity to collect cells. Researchers then analyse gene activity within those cells, providing insight into biological processes linked to the brain.

In an early-stage study published in Nature Communications, researchers examined samples from 22 participants. By analysing thousands of genes across hundreds of thousands of individual cells, they identified patterns that distinguished individuals with early or diagnosed Alzheimer’s from those without the disease.

A combined gene score correctly classified participants around 81% of the time.

Importantly, the test also detected changes in individuals who had biological markers of Alzheimer’s, such as elevated levels of amyloid protein in the brain, but had not yet developed symptoms. Amyloid buildup can begin years before memory problems emerge.

“Much of what we know about Alzheimer’s comes from autopsy tissue,” said Vincent D’Anniballe, the study’s lead author. “Now we can study living neural tissue, opening new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.”

While the findings are promising, experts stress that the research is still in its early stages. The small sample size means larger studies are needed to confirm the results and determine how accurate and reliable the test is across broader populations.

Current treatments for Alzheimer’s can only modestly slow disease progression and may carry significant side effects. There is still no cure, nor any way to stop or reverse the condition.