Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
09:00
Olfactory Behavioral Testing in the Adult Mouse
Published on: January 28, 2009
20.3K
Olfactory Testing in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Literature Review
Alessandro Tonacci1, Lucia Billeci1
11 Clinical Physiology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy.
Summary
Olfactory testing may aid in diagnosing frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Impaired odor identification, not discrimination, suggests higher-order cognitive deficits, enhancing diagnostic value.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by language, personality, and executive function deficits.
- FTD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are frequently linked to olfactory impairment, an early biomarker for neurodegeneration.
- Low-cost olfactory tests are commonly employed for assessing olfactory function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature on the utility of olfactory testing in diagnosing FTD/FTLD.
- To evaluate the diagnostic value of olfactory assessment in differentiating FTD/FTLD from other conditions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies published between January 1, 2007, and June 12, 2017.
- Focus on research investigating olfactory testing's usefulness in FTD/FTLD.
Main Results:
- Most studies reported a general decrease in olfactory identification ability in FTD/FTLD patients.
- Preserved odor discrimination alongside impaired identification suggests higher-order cognitive or language impairments, not primary olfactory system deficits.
- Olfactory testing shows potential as an add-on diagnostic tool, particularly for challenging differential diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory testing, specifically identification deficits, can contribute to the diagnosis of FTD/FTLD.
- Findings support olfactory assessment as a valuable component in the diagnostic workup for FTD/FTLD.
- This approach may improve diagnostic accuracy in complex clinical cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
580
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
580
01:10Review and Preview
8.4K
In statistics, several tools are used to interpret the data. Measures of central tendency represent the characteristics of the data, such as mean, median, and mode. Additionally, measures of variance like standard deviation and range are used to find the spread of data from the mean. Relative standing measures the distance between data locations. Commonly used measures of relative standings are percentile, z score, and quartiles.
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
Percentiles are a type of fractile that partition data into...
8.4K
01:13Review and Preview
11.6K
Data are individual items of information obtained from a population or sample. Data may be classified as qualitative (categorical), quantitative continuous, or quantitative discrete. Because it is not practical to measure the entire population in a study, researchers use samples to represent the population. A random sample is a representative group from the population chosen by using a method that gives each individual in the population an equal chance of being included in the sample. Random...
11.6K
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
13.0K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
13.0K
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
11.9K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
11.9K
01:27Testes: Histology
3.1K
A tough, fibrous membrane, the tunica albuginea, covers the testes, extending inward to form fibrous partitions or septa, dividing them into internal compartments called lobules. Each lobule has 1 to 3 tightly coiled seminiferous tubules where sperm production occurs. These tubules merge into a tubular network at the back of the testis, known as the rete testis. It connects to 15 to 20 efferent ductules, leading to the epididymis.
The spermatogenic cells, responsible for producing sperm, are...
The spermatogenic cells, responsible for producing sperm, are...
3.1K