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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Olfactory alterations in patients with multiple sclerosis
Sergio Semeraro Jordy1, Alberto Starzewski2, Felipe André Basso Macedo2
1Centro de Atendimento e Tratamento de Esclerose Múltipla - CATEM, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
Objective:
To assess olfactory function using the Connecticut test and verify correlations between olfactory alteration, disease duration and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Methods:
One hundred MS patients and 100 healthy control patients responded to a questionnaire. Those with olfactory alteration underwent a facial CT to exclude other causes.
Results:
Thirty-two percent of patients showed alterations, compared with 3% in the healthy control group. Patients having EDSS above 4, showed a 5.2-times increased risk of dysfunction. Patients over 38 years of age have a 2.2-times increased risk over younger patients.
Conclusions:
Because MS patients are likely to experience olfactory alterations, this study is a useful tool in follow-up care, although more studies are necessary to evaluate the correlations in MS evolution.
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