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Updated Sniffin' Sticks normative data based on an extended sample of 9139 subjects.
A Oleszkiewicz1,2, V A Schriever3, I Croy4
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
Summary
Olfactory performance declines with age, particularly after 60, and differs between sexes. This study provides updated normative data for the Sniffin' Sticks test across age groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory Research
- Gerontology
Background:
- Accurate olfactory assessment requires up-to-date normative data.
- Previous studies often used smaller sample sizes, limiting diagnostic validity, especially for older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish detailed, current normative data for olfactory function using a large dataset.
- To improve diagnostic accuracy by referencing narrow age-specific groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 9139 healthy individuals aged 5 to 96 years.
- Administered the standard Sniffin' Sticks test, assessing threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI score).
Main Results:
- Olfactory threshold decline was most pronounced with age.
- Peak performance observed in individuals aged 20-30 years.
- Significant sex differences favored women; olfactory function decreased notably in individuals over 71 years.
Conclusions:
- Updated normative data guide the assessment of individual olfactory performance across age groups.
- Age and sex significantly impact olfactory test scores.
- Olfactory function shows a marked increase from age 5 to 20 and a sharp decline from 60 to 71 years.