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Olfactory evaluation in Mild Cognitive Impairment: correlation with neurocognitive performance and endothelial
Alessandro Tonacci1, Rosa M Bruno1,2, Lorenzo Ghiadoni2
1Clinical Physiology Institute - National Research Council (IFC-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Olfactory impairment is a key indicator of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), predicting its onset and correlating with cognitive decline. Vascular dysfunction may also play a role in this olfactory deficit.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
- Olfactory impairment is an early biomarker for neurodegeneration, potentially signaling future pathological changes.
- Understanding olfactory function in MCI is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate olfactory function in individuals with MCI compared to healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between olfactory function, neurocognitive performance, and endothelial function in MCI.
- To determine if olfactory scores can predict MCI and correlate with cognitive abilities and vascular health.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 85 individuals with MCI and 41 healthy controls, matched for age and gender.
- Assessed olfactory function using the Sniffin' Sticks Extended Test.
- Performed comprehensive neurocognitive assessments and measured endothelial function via flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
Main Results:
- Individuals with MCI exhibited significantly impaired olfactory function compared to controls.
- The overall olfactory score demonstrated good sensitivity (70.3%) and specificity (77.4%) in predicting MCI.
- In MCI patients, olfactory identification scores correlated with various cognitive functions, including memory and verbal fluency.
- Reduced FMD was observed in MCI, and it was positively associated with olfactory identification, even after controlling for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory evaluation effectively distinguishes individuals with MCI from healthy controls.
- Olfactory dysfunction in MCI is linked to neurocognitive deficits and potentially influenced by systemic vascular dysfunction.
- Olfactory testing offers a valuable, non-invasive tool for assessing MCI and its associated pathologies.