Olfactory function and neurocognitive outcomes in old age: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study

We tested the hypothesis that poor sense of smell is associated with lower cognitive function and higher mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence. Olfaction, measured by the Sniffin' Sticks test, was categorized as olfactory impairment (OI) (score ≤6) or no OI (score >6). MCI was adjudicat...

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Published in:Alzheimer's & dementia Vol. 14; no. 8; p. 1015
Main Authors: Palta, Priya, Chen, Honglei, Deal, Jennifer A, Sharrett, A Richey, Gross, Alden, Knopman, David, Griswold, Michael, Heiss, Gerardo, Mosley, Thomas H
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.08.2018
Subjects:
Aged
Atherosclerosis - diagnosis
Atherosclerosis - epidemiology
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis
Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data
Olfaction Disorders - diagnosis
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Smell - physiology
United States - epidemiology
United States
Odor identification
Cognitive function
Community-based study
Mild cognitive impairment
Olfaction
ISSN:1552-5279, 1552-5279
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Summary:We tested the hypothesis that poor sense of smell is associated with lower cognitive function and higher mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence. Olfaction, measured by the Sniffin' Sticks test, was categorized as olfactory impairment (OI) (score ≤6) or no OI (score >6). MCI was adjudicated based on review of a neuropsychological examination. Linear regression estimated the mean difference in cognitive factor scores, and log-binomial regression quantified MCI prevalence among participants with versus without OI. Participants with OI had lower mean factor scores (memory: -0.27 standard deviation [SD], 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.35 to -0.19; language: -0.24 SD, 95% CI: -0.30 to -0.17; executive function/processing speed: -0.09 SD, 95% CI: -0.12 to -0.06; and general cognitive performance: -0.25 SD, 95% CI: -0.30 to -0.20). OI was also associated with MCI (n = 204; prevalence ratio = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.78). An impaired sense of smell may serve as a readily accessible early marker of neurodegeneration and improve upon the prevailing delayed diagnoses and underascertainment of MCI/dementia.
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ISSN:1552-5279
1552-5279
DOI:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.02.019