title: Effects of nutritional status and cognitive ability on olfactory function in geriatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and evaluate the relationship between olfactory function and nutritional status, comorbidity, and the results of a neurocognitive test in geriatric patients who do not suffer from neurodegenerative disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 patients who visited the Geriatric Health Center of Chungnam National University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Olfactory function was assessed using a Korean Version of Sniffin' Stick Test II. Cognitive status of all participants was assessed with the MMSE-K (Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination). Nutritional status was assessed with body mass index, Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and serum total protein and albumin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 45 participants were enrolled in this study. Of these subjects, 28 were men and 17 were women, with a mean age of 71.7±5.16 years. Nine (20%) were normosmia, 13 (28.9%) were hyposmia, and 23 (51.1%) were anosmia. Thirty-six patients (80%) suffered from olfactory dysfunction (anosmia or hyposmia). MMSE score showed significant correlation with MNA score. There were significant negative correlations between age and total TDI (threshold, discrimination, and identification) score, discrimination score, identification score, and MMSE score. MMSE score showed significant correlation with discrimination score and identification score. However, MNA score did not show any significant correlation with olfactory function test results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although olfactory function was not influenced by nutritional status, abilities of discrimination and identification of odors were associated with cognitive function in geriatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Ryun
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Medical Science, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: entkym@cnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009752:Nutritional Status; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds
keywords: Aging; Cognitive impairment; Malnutrition; Nutrition; Odor identification; Olfaction; Smell disorder