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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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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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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.
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Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
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A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
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The relationship between olfaction and cognitive function in the elderly.

Sae Uchida1, Chiho Shimada2, Naoko Sakuma3

  • 1Department of Autonomic Neuroscience, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan. suchida@tmig.or.jp.

The Journal of Physiological Sciences : JPS
|October 15, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Elderly individuals with poorer olfactory function showed a significant decline in attentional speed. This suggests a link between olfactory impairment and cognitive decline, particularly in attention-related functions.

Keywords:
AttentionCognitive functionElderly peopleOdor identification thresholdOlfactory function

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Gerontology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is common in aging.
  • Cognitive decline, especially in attention, affects the elderly.
  • The basal forebrain cholinergic system is implicated in both olfaction and attention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between olfactory function and cognitive performance in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
  • To determine if olfactory impairment is associated with specific cognitive deficits, particularly in attention.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed olfactory function using the rose odor identification threshold in 12 elderly participants (mean age 80.9 years).
  • Evaluated cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for general cognition and the Trail-Making Test Part A (TMT-A) for attentional speed.
  • Compared cognitive performance between participants with higher (≥5) and lower (≤4) olfactory thresholds.

Main Results:

  • Participants with higher olfactory thresholds demonstrated a significant decline in TMT-A performance speed (73% ± 7%, p=0.05) compared to those with lower thresholds.
  • A trend towards decline in general cognitive status (MMSE) was observed in individuals with higher olfactory thresholds.
  • These findings suggest a correlation between olfactory impairment and reduced attentional capacity.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory impairment is linked to a decline in cognitive function, specifically in attention-related processes, in the elderly.
  • The basal forebrain cholinergic system may be a common pathway underlying the observed relationship between olfaction and attention.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of olfactory deficits for cognitive health in aging populations.