Swabbing the Nose Could Spot Alzheimer’s Early

"Scientists at Duke University have tried a new test that uses a tiny brush to collect cells from inside the nose. The goal is to find early clues of Alzheimer’s before memory problems start. In a small study, 22 people gave samples. A numbing spray was used first, then the brush reached the upper part of the nose where smell‑sensing nerves live. Researchers looked at which genes were active in those cells, a sign of brain activity. They measured thousands of genes across many individual cells, creating millions of data points. The test could spot changes in nerve and immune cells even when people had lab signs of Alzheimer’s but no symptoms. It correctly identified early or clinical Alzheimer’s in about 81 % of cases, better than some blood tests that only detect later markers.The team hopes the swab could let doctors start treatments before serious damage occurs. A student involved said this approach lets scientists study living brain tissue instead of just post‑mortem samples, opening new paths for diagnosis and therapy. One volunteer joined the study to honor her sister who died from young‑onset Alzheimer’s at 57. She said she wanted to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. Duke is now working with the UNC Alzheimer’s Research Center to test larger groups and see if the swab can track how patients respond to treatment over time. "