Olfaction in Korsakoffs, alcoholics and normals

Samples of 12 hospitalized Korsakoffs, 12 hospitalized non-Korsakoff alcoholics, and 12 controls, all groups being of comparable age range, were tested using a set of seven visual and olfactory measures which involved memory. By stepwise multiple discriminant analysis it was shown that strong separation could be effected between the three groups, solely on the basis of the olfactory recognition and recall tests, which included the Campbell-Gregson (1972) procedure. The use of of anosmia as a diagnostic indicator for Korsakoff's syndrome is discussed.