The sniffing bead system, an olfactory dysfunction screening tool for geriatric subjects: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Otorhinolaryngology

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction is a common concern in older adults.
• Early detection of olfactory impairment is crucial for managing age-related cognitive decline.
• Developing simple, accessible screening tools is essential for widespread clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple, one-off olfactory screening test for general clinical use in older adults.
• To assess the efficacy of the sniffing bead system in identifying olfactory dysfunction.
• To compare the performance and time efficiency of the sniffing bead system with existing olfactory tests.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 137 geriatric subjects (aged >50 years).
• Olfactory function was assessed using the sniffing bead system (2-phenylethyl alcohol and n-butanol) and the YSK olfactory function test.
• Correlation analyses were performed between the sniffing bead system scores and YSK test scores, considering cognitive function status.

Main Results:

• The 2-phenylethyl alcohol sniffing bead test scores showed significant correlations with YSK_threshold, YSK_identification, and YSK_threshold-discrimination-identification scores (p < 0.001).
• The sniffing bead system demonstrated significant correlations with YSK test components in both normal and impaired cognitive function groups.
• The sniffing bead system test was significantly faster (5.00 ± 1.51 min) than the comprehensive YSK test (20.43 ± 5.29 min).

Conclusions:

• The sniffing bead system is a valid and reliable tool for screening olfactory function in older adults.
• This system allows for rapid and accurate assessment of olfactory dysfunction, potentially aiding in early diagnosis and intervention.
• The simplicity and efficiency of the sniffing bead system make it suitable for general clinical practice in geriatrics.