title: Olfactory Dysfunction, Olfactory Bulb Volume and Alzheimer's Disease: Is There a Correlation? A Pilot Study1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olfactory dysfunction is present since the earliest stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD patients, the olfactory impairment has been correlated with atrophy of some structures of the olfactory system, but the role of the olfactory bulb remains unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our work is to test if patients suffering from AD exhibit a statistically significant reduction of the average volume of the olfactory bulb (OBV) compared to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  78 subjects were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups: 28 healthy elderly (22 females, 6 males, mean age 69.4 ± 9.2), 25 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) amnestic type (14 females, 11 males, mean age 74.5 ± 7.5), and 25 mild AD patients (14 females, 11 males, mean age 73.7 ± 6.8). Every subject underwent an MRI study of the olfactory bulb and an olfactory assessment with the Sniffin' Stick Extended Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical analysis showed no correlation between the OBV and MCI or AD. Moreover, olfactory function and OBV were not correlated in any of the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of OBV does not seem to represent an index of neuronal damage in the earliest stages of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Servello
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioretti
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Emergency, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gualdi
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Emergency, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Biasi
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Emergency, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pittalis
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Umberto I Hospital, Department of Emergency, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Saadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sollaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusetti
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Applied Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Masedu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cacciafesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marigliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Evaristo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagliarella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000647:Amnesia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010812:Physical Stimulation
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; hyposmia; mild cognitive impairment; olfactory bulb volume