The effects of cognition, quality of life, and fatigue on olfactory function in patients with multiple sclerosis

The frequency of olfactory dysfunction in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has revealed very different results in studies. Some studies have shown that olfactory dysfunction may be associated with cognitive impairment and poor quality of life. In these studies, different odor tests and cognitive tests were used and different results were obtained.

Forty literate patients over the age of 18 and 24 healthy volunteers of similar age and education were included in the study. Sniffin' Sticks Odor Test, California Verbal Learning Test II, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Revised Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Trail-Making Test, Quality of Life Short Form-36, Fatigue Impact Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to the individuals.

Olfactory dysfunction was detected in 50 % of the patients. High disability rate, low cognitive functions, low quality of life, and fatigue were identified as the factors affecting olfactory function negatively. Odor discrimination and identification abilities were associated with disability level and cognitive functions, whereas quality of life was linked to odor threshold scores. The olfactory function and cognitive abilities of patients with progressive MS (n = 5) were worse than those of patients with relapsing remitting MS (n = 35).

Olfactory dysfunction is common in patients with MS and is associated with disability and quality of life. Olfactory function can be used in the follow-up of patients and olfactory dysfunction deserves further study as a metric that might emerge as a biomarker.