title: Genetic and environmental influences on odor identification ability in the very old.
abstract: Odor identification ability and cognition were measured in a population-based cohort of 1,222 very old twins and singletons, including 91 centenarians. Heritability for identifying odors was low, in contrast to that for cognition. Common genes were found to contribute to both olfaction and cognition. In a multiple regression model, sex, age, cognitive function, and smoking, but not APOEε4 status, were significant predictors of the olfactory test scores (all ps < 0.001). This study, along with data from other studies, suggests that indices of heritability for odor identification decline with age, likely reflecting adverse environmental influences on the smell system.
authors.affiliation: Smell & Taste Center, University of Pennsylvania, USA. doty@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Nii
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mensah
authors.forename: Kaare
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012737:Sex Factors; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4