Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Westervelt, Holly James
• Ruffolo, Jessica Somerville
• Tremont, Geoffrey

Titel

Assessing olfaction in the neuropsychological exam: The relationship between odor identification and cognition in older adults

Ist Teil von

• Archives of clinical neuropsychology, 2005-08, Vol.20 (6), p.761-769

Ort / Verlag

Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2005

Quelle

Oxford Journals 2020 Medicine

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• 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.