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Nasal Swab Detects Early Alzheimer's with 81% Accuracy

3/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Duke Health researchers developed a nasal swab to detect early signs of Alzheimer's by analyzing nerve and immune cell activity.
The study, published in Nature Communications with 22 participants, showed 81% accuracy distinguishing early Alzheimer's from clinical Alzheimer's and healthy controls.
The National Institutes of Health funded research, and the team will expand to larger groups and track treatment progress.
Mary Umstead participated to honor her sister with young-onset Alzheimer's.

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Story summary

Duke Health researchers developed a nasal swab to detect early signs of Alzheimer's by analyzing nerve and immune cell activity.
The study, published in Nature Communications with 22 participants, showed 81% accuracy distinguishing early Alzheimer's from clinical Alzheimer's and healthy controls.
The National Institutes of Health funded research, and the team will expand to larger groups and track treatment progress.
Mary Umstead participated to honor her sister with young-onset Alzheimer's.