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Author Spotlight: Assessing the Olfactory Effects of Airborne Pollutants — Buried Food and Social Odor Tests
Published on: September 13, 2024
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Environmental Air Pollution and Olfactory Decline in Aging.
Ingrid A Ekström1, Debora Rizzuto1,2, Giulia Grande1
1Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Environmental Health Perspectives
|February 9, 2022
Summary
Exposure to air pollution, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, is linked to faster olfactory decline in older adults. This suggests pollution may contribute to age-related smell loss.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Olfactory impairment is common in aging, potentially due to inhaled toxins.
- Population studies on air pollution and olfactory ability are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between exposure to common air pollutants and longitudinal changes in odor identification.
- To explore the impact of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides on olfactory function over time.
Main Methods:
- Study included 2,468 participants from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K).
- Odor identification was assessed using Sniffin' Sticks over 12 years.
- Exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) was estimated using spatiotemporal models.
Main Results:
- Participants experienced a significant annual decline in odor identification.
- Higher exposure quartiles of PM2.5 and NOx were associated with accelerated olfactory decline.
- These associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Air pollution exposure is associated with subsequent olfactory decline in older adults.
- Cumulative effects of airborne pollutants may be a contributing factor to age-related olfactory impairment.
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