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Odor identification and cognitive function in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study.

Carla R Schubert¹, Karen J Cruickshanks, Mary E Fischer

¹a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health , Madison , WI , USA.

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology

|June 25, 2013

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Olfactory impairment, or a reduced sense of smell, is linked to poorer cognitive function, including attention and processing speed, in middle-aged adults. This study highlights the importance of smell for brain health in midlife.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Cognitive Psychology

Background:

Olfactory impairment is a known correlate of cognitive decline in older adults.
The relationship between olfactory function and cognition in middle-aged individuals remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between olfactory impairment and cognitive function in a predominantly middle-aged cohort.
To examine performance on tests of attention, processing speed, executive, and psychomotor function in relation to olfactory identification ability.

Main Methods:

The Beaver Dam Offspring Study included 2837 participants aged 21-84 years (mean age 49).
Olfactory function was assessed using an odor identification test.
Cognitive function was evaluated using the Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B) and the Grooved Peg Board (GPB) test.

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Main Results:

Middle-aged participants (35-64 years) with olfactory impairment performed significantly worse on TMT-A, TMT-B, and GPB tests.
In the entire cohort, olfactory impairment was associated with poorer performance on TMT-A and TMT-B, but not GPB.
These associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple confounding factors.

Conclusions:

Olfactory impairment is associated with diminished cognitive function, specifically in attention and psychomotor speed, among middle-aged adults.
The findings suggest that olfactory decline may serve as an early indicator of cognitive changes in midlife.
Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying this association and its clinical implications.