Inflammatory and vascular markers and olfactory impairment in older adults

the incidence of olfactory impairment increases sharply in the eighth and ninth decades of life but the aetiology of age-related olfactory decline is not well understood. Inflammation and atherosclerosis are associated with many age-related conditions and atherosclerosis has been associated with olfactory decline in middle-aged adults.

to determine if inflammatory markers and atherosclerosis are associated with the development of olfactory impairment in older adults.

longitudinal, population-based study.

a total of 1,611 participants, aged 53-97 years in the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study without olfactory impairment at the 1998-2000 examination and with follow-up at a subsequent examination 5 and/or 10 years later.

the San Diego Odor Identification Test was used to measure olfaction. High sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α were measured in serum and carotid ultrasound images were obtained for the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and plaque assessment. Medical history, behavioural and lifestyle information were obtained by interview.

inflammatory markers, IMT and plaque were not associated with the 10-year cumulative incidence of olfactory impairment in adjusted Cox proportional hazard models. Among those <60 years, the mean IMT [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.69-11.21, tertile 3 versus tertile 1] and the number of sites with plaque (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.17-2.08, per site) were associated with an increased risk of developing an olfactory impairment at follow-up.

subclinical atherosclerosis at a younger age may be a risk factor for the development of olfactory impairment.