Work

Assessment of the influence of cognition and cognitive processing speed on three tests of olfaction

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The extent to which measures of working memory, cognitive speed, and verbal retrieval are associated with performance on tests of olfaction was evaluated in a sample of 138 older adults. Structural equation modeling techniques indicated that verbal retrieval difficulties significantly affect performance on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Further, poor working memory and slow cognitive speed significantly affect performance on the UPSIT and the phenyl ethyl alcohol threshold test. The Sniff Magnitude Test was not influenced by any of the cognitive variables. Odor threshold and identification tasks may overestimate olfactory loss when cognitive impairment is not taken into account.

Source: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology

DOI: 10.1080/13803390701415892

Authors: Mario F. Dulay, Robert C. Gesteland, Paula K. Shear, P. Neal Ritchey, Robert A. Frank

Institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Subfield: Sensory Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Awards: Olfaction and Cognition in Older Adults, G443731132, G8186650906