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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
10:42
A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
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Olfactory Dysfunction in the Elderly: Basic Circuitry and Alterations with Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
Arjun V Masurkar1, D P Devanand2
1Division of Aging and Dementia, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, NY, USA.
Current Geriatrics Reports
|July 22, 2014
Summary
Early detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) is crucial. Olfactory dysfunction may serve as an early indicator for preclinical AD, aiding future planning and treatment identification.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Pathology
Background:
- Preclinical detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) is vital for patient planning and identifying treatment candidates.
- Olfactory dysfunction presents a potential early biomarker for AD.
- Understanding olfactory changes is key to early AD intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review olfactory circuitry and pathophysiological changes in aging and AD.
- To evaluate olfactory behavioral studies in human and animal models.
- To hypothesize mechanisms and locations of olfactory dysfunction in AD.
Main Methods:
- Review of basic olfactory circuitry.
- Evaluation of pathophysiological changes in olfactory pathways (human and animal models).
- Analysis of olfactory behavioral studies (human and animal models).
Main Results:
- Olfactory dysfunction is observed in aging and Alzheimer disease.
- Pathophysiological changes occur in olfactory processing pathways.
- Behavioral studies indicate olfactory deficits in preclinical and early AD.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory dysfunction is a promising preclinical marker for Alzheimer disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and localization of olfactory deficits in AD.
- Identifying olfactory dysfunction can improve early diagnosis and patient management for AD.
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