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Olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease Systematic review and meta-analysis
Maren de Moraes E Silva1, Pilar Bueno Siqueira Mercer1, Maria Carolina Zavagna Witt1
1MD. Hospital da Cruz Vermelha Filial do Paraná. Neurology Department. Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Dementia & Neuropsychologia
|July 11, 2018
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is linked to significant olfactory impairments, particularly in odor identification. Olfactory tests may aid in the early diagnosis of this neurodegenerative condition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Pathology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia in the elderly.
- AD prevalence doubles every five years in older adults.
- Olfactory dysfunction is increasingly recognized as an early marker in neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and olfactory deficits.
- To identify specific olfactory domains most affected in AD.
- To assess the potential of olfactory tests for early AD diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using terms related to olfaction and Alzheimer's disease.
- Selected studies were analyzed based on olfactory test methods: identification, discrimination, and recognition.
- A meta-analysis was performed on the collected data.
Main Results:
- Fifty-one articles were included in the analysis.
- A large effect size was observed across most studies.
- Summary values for individualized olfactory analysis categories were substantial.
Conclusions:
- Odor identification is the most significantly impaired olfactory domain in Alzheimer's disease, excluding memory-related functions.
- Integrating odor identification tests into early diagnostic evaluations for AD warrants further exploration.
- Olfactory testing shows promise as a complementary tool for early AD detection.