Development of an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease based on olfactory impairment using a novel imaging evaluation method
Description: It is known that olfactory dysfunction (OD) appears before the onset or early stage of dementia, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Still, OD is also reduced in healthy elderly. In this study, we investigated whether it is possible to differentiate between healthy elderly people and patients with MCI and AD based on olfactory tests and diagnostic imaging. Compared to healthy elderly people, olfactory function decreased with the progression of MCI and AD. Brain MRI also showed a reduction in the volume of the olfactory bulb, frontal lobe, hippocampus, amygdala, and entorhinal cortex. In an olfactory identification test using 12 odors familiar to the Japanese, curry was the most effective in differentiating MCI and AD from normal subjects. These results suggest if OD is determined through screening during health check-ups and physical examinations, detailed examination with MRI is indicated which could lead to early diagnosis of dementia.
Amount: ¥4,680,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Start date: 2016-04-01
End date: 2024-03-31
Investigator: Takaki MIWA
Institution: Kanazawa Medical University
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 5
Funder award ID: 16K11219
OpenAlex ID: G6590243994