The MJFF-sponsored Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative is investigating smell loss as a potential biomarker of Parkinson’s disease. In more news from the frontier of smell and your brain, USA Today reports that peanut butter may have particular power to help researchers predict Alzheimer’s disease, or confirm a diagnosis, according to researchers at the University of Florida.

“Knowing that patients in cognitive decline often lose their sense of smell first, the researchers had patients sniff a dollop of peanut butter with each nostril separately. They used a ruler to measure the point at which people detected the odor (and to keep the other nostril closed).

“The weird result: People with a confirmed diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's could smell it fine with their right nostril, but not their left, say the UF scientists.”

Check out our infographic for more info on the fascinating connection between smell and your brain.