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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...
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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
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Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
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Predictors of Olfactory Decline in Aging: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study.

Ingrid Ekström1, Maria Larsson2, Debora Rizzuto1,3

  • 1Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Sweden.

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
|September 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Aging is linked to declining odor identification, with factors like diabetes and cardiovascular disease accelerating this loss. Understanding these predictors is crucial for maintaining olfactory health in older adults.

Keywords:
Cognitive agingEpidemiologyOlfactoryOlfactory impairment

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Neuroscience
  • Olfactory Research
  • Aging and Health

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is prevalent in aging and linked to dementia and mortality.
  • Longitudinal studies on olfactory ability changes over time are limited.
  • Identifying predictors of olfactory decline is essential for understanding aging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify predictors of interindividual differences in the rate of olfactory identification change in aging.
  • To investigate the impact of demographic, health, and genetic factors on olfactory decline.

Main Methods:

  • 1780 participants (mean age 70.5 years) from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) with at least two olfactory assessments over 12 years.
  • Odor identification assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test.
  • Linear mixed-effects models used to analyze demographic, health, and genetic predictors of olfactory change rate.

Main Results:

  • Accelerated odor identification decline associated with older age, manufacturing profession, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease burden, diabetes, slower walking speed, polypharmacy, and the APOE ε4 allele.
  • Multi-adjusted analyses revealed unique associations of age, diabetes, and APOE ε4 with olfactory decline.
  • In participants remaining dementia-free, age, cardiovascular disease burden, and diabetes predicted accelerated decline, with age and diabetes remaining significant after multi-adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Demographic, vascular, and genetic factors significantly influence the rate of olfactory identification decline in aging.
  • Vascular factors play a critical role in maintaining olfactory system integrity, independent of dementia status.
  • While some olfactory loss is associated with aging, modifiable factors like diabetes and cardiovascular health are important targets for intervention.