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Relationship between odor perception and depression in the Japanese elderly
S Satoh1, N Morita, I Matsuzaki
1Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|October 1, 1996
Summary
This study explored odor perception in elderly individuals, finding significant differences in how those with higher depression scores rated odor pleasantness and familiarity compared to others. These findings suggest altered olfactory experiences may correlate with depression symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Odor perception research in mental disorders lacks consensus, particularly for depression.
- Previous studies have not definitively established links between depression and olfactory processing (detection, identification, pleasantness).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between odor perception (strength, pleasantness, liking, familiarity) and depression levels in elderly individuals.
- To compare olfactory perception scores between elderly individuals with high and low self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores.
Main Methods:
- 119 community-dwelling elderly individuals participated.
- Participants rated 8 different odors (rose, perfume, white ginger, Indian ink, cigarette smoke, milk, feces, orange) using a scratch-and-sniff method.
- Odor perception (strength, pleasantness, liking, familiarity) and depression (SDS) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the psychological olfactory scale scores between high-SDS and low-SDS groups.
- Specific olfactory dimensions, such as pleasantness and familiarity, showed notable variations related to depression scores.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals with higher depression scores exhibit altered odor perception, particularly in rating pleasantness and familiarity.
- These findings suggest a potential link between depression and olfactory processing deficits in the elderly population.