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Smell identification function in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2018

Latha Velayudhan ,
Frances Wilson-Morkeh ,
Emily Penney ,
Amala Jovia Maria Jesu ,
Sarah Baillon  and
Traolach Brugha
Latha Velayudhan*
Affiliation:
Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, London, UK Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Leicester, UK
Frances Wilson-Morkeh
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Leicester, UK
Emily Penney
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Leicester, UK
Amala Jovia Maria Jesu
Affiliation:
Evington Centre, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Sarah Baillon
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Leicester, UK Evington Centre, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
Traolach Brugha
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Leicester, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Latha Velayudhan, Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Clinical Lecturer, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, PO Box 70, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Phone: 0044 207848 0508. Email: latha.velayudhan@kcl.ac.uk; lv24@le.ac.uk
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Abstract

Little is known about olfactory identification (OI) function in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) and early-onset mild cognitive impairment (eoMCI) with age of onset <65 years. We aimed to study OI in EOAD compared with eoMCI and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Nineteen EOAD subjects with mild to moderate dementia, 17 with eoMCI, and 21 HC recruited as a convenience sample from memory services were assessed for cognition, behavioral symptoms, and activities for daily living. The OI was tested using the University of Pennsylvania smell identification test (UPSIT). EOAD participants performed worse compared with eoMCI and HC on cognitive tests and OI (p < 0.001). Although eoMCI had poorer cognitive scores compared to HC, they were similar in their OI function. OI correlated with attention (r = 0.494, p = 0.031), executive functions (r = 0.508, p = 0.026), and praxis (r = 0.455, p = 0.05) within the EOAD group. OI impairment was significantly associated with the diagnosis of EOAD versus eoMCI, but not with eoMCI when compared with HC. OI could potentially be useful in differentiating EOAD from eoMCI. Studies with late-life MCI patients showing OI impairment relative to HC may be attributed to a different disease process. Independent replication in a larger sample is needed to validate these findings.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s diseaseearly onset dementiasmell identificationolfactionmild cognitive impairment
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 7: Issue Theme: Diverse Approaches to Stemming Cognitive Decline , July 2019 , pp. 1065 - 1070
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

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Footnotes

*

Consultant Psychiatrist, South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Lichfield, UK

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