Purpose: Decline of olfactory function has been linked to aging of the brain and also to risk of developing dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases according to several Western studies of community-dwelling populations. The aim of this study was to understand the usefulness of a smell identification test to identify early signs of mental decline in relation with age, sex, and education in a community-dwelling population in Japan.
Material and methods:The participants comprised of 1102 volunteers aged 20-90 (437 male and 665 female) who entered the Hirosaki University observational longitudinal study that first started in 2005. Each participant self-evaluated their olfactory abilities and later on were subject to modified Pocket Smell Test (mPST) odor identification test developed in collaboration with Sensonics Inc. followed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate mental fitness. Multiple statistical analyses were performed to determine the usefulness of the simplified 4-odor (grape, onion, rose and soap) to understand non-invasively possible deterioration of brain function in relation with self-estimation of olfactory function, subjects age, sex, education and MMSE.
Results:The results revealed similarities between self-estimation of olfactory sensory capabilities and mPST odor identification test (82.2% accuracy). A clear relationship between aging, sex, education and olfactory system impairment was also observed. In addition, the polyserial correlation coefficient was 0.3313, suggesting the association between olfactory impairment and decline of mental fitness. Thus, mPST appears useful to detect an early decline of mental fitness in Japanese general population.