title: Assessing olfaction in the neuropsychological exam: the relationship between odor identification and cognition in older adults.
abstract: The relationship between odor identification and cognition has not been previously well characterized. The neuroanatomy of the olfactory system and the frequent finding of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases suggest a likely relationship between odor identification and memory, language, and executive functioning, though previous studies have often failed to demonstrate the expected relationship. The current study examined this relationship in across a continuum of ability levels (N=100). Strongest correlations were found between odor identification and language, most aspects of memory, and a measure of general cognitive functioning. Significant but more modest correlations were seen between odor identification and attention, motor, visuospatial, and executive functions. A regression analysis revealed language as the only significant predictor of olfactory performance. These findings suggest that odor identification is most closely associated with other measures of temporo-limbic functioning. The implications of these findings, particularly in consideration of the assessment of older adults, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Rhode Island Hospital, Physician's Office Building, Suite 430, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA, and Brown Medical School, RI, USA. hwestervelt@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Holly James
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Westervelt
authors.forename: Jessica Somerville
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ruffolo
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009812:Odorants; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic