Olfactory function in chronic alcoholics.
8 patients participating in an outpatient program for chronic alcohol abuse and 8 age-matched controls were tested for olfactory function. There was a significant difference between the two groups on a match-to-sample test using uncommon odors but not on a smell identification test using common odors. Ability to detect and identify common odors does not appear to be impaired by chronic alcohol abuse. Deficits on the odor-matching task may be related to difficulty in encoding olfactory information rather than a primary olfactory deficit.
Kesslak
J P
JP
Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Profitt
B F
BF
Criswell
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell