New smell test developed for Parkinson s, Alzheimer s & Covid
By IANS |
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Early symptoms of Parkinson s disease.. Image Source: IANS News
London, April 30 : Researchers haveAdeveloped a novel smell test that is easy to use in patients with Parkinson s and Alzheimer s, and could also be helpful in diagnosing Covid-19.
The smell testing kit, developed by Queen Mary University of London researchers, includes capsules of aromatic oils placed between two strips of single-sided tape.
To take the smell test, the capsules are simply crushed between the fingers and the tape strip peeled to release the aroma contained within the capsules. Based on a person s ability to recognise these smells, a score would be generated that can be sent to doctors, if they are experiencing a loss of smell.
Queen Mary University of London
A new smell test developed by Queen Mary University of London researchers has been found to be easy to use in patients with Parkinson’s disease, and could also be helpful in diagnosing COVID-19 in the broader population.
Smell tests have the potential to support the diagnosis of certain neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, these tests are not widely available, expensive, and take too long to administer in routine healthcare settings.
To address this problem, the team developed a novel smell testing kit which uses capsules of aromatic oils placed between two strips of single-sided tape.