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. 2020 Feb;16(2):326-334.
doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.08.200. Epub 2020 Jan 4.

Intact global cognitive and olfactory ability predicts lack of transition to dementia

Davangere P Devanand  1   2 , Seonjoo Lee  3 , Jose A Luchsinger  4 , Howard Andrews  5 , Terry Goldberg  1   2 , Edward D Huey  2   6   7 , Nicole Schupf  7   8   9 , Jennifer Manly  7   8   10 , Yaakov Stern  6 , William C Kreisl  7 , Richard Mayeux  7   10
Affiliations

Intact global cognitive and olfactory ability predicts lack of transition to dementia

Davangere P Devanand et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Odor identification deficits characterize Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We examined if intact performance on brief cognitive and odor identification tests predicts lack of transition to dementia.

Methods: In an urban community, 1037 older adults without dementia completed the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, which includes the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT). Data from 749 participants followed up for 4 years were analyzed.

Results: In covariate-adjusted survival analyses, impairment on the Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration Test and B-SIT each predicted dementia (n = 109), primarily Alzheimer's disease (n = 101). Among participants with intact olfactory (B-SIT ≥ 11/12 correct) and cognitive (Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration Test ≤ 5/28 incorrect) ability, 3.4% (4/117) transitioned to dementia during follow-up with no transitions in the 70-75 and 81-83 years age group quartiles.

Discussion: Odor identification testing adds value to global cognitive testing, and together can identify individuals who rarely transition to dementia, thereby avoiding unnecessary diagnostic investigation.

Keywords: Cognition; Dementia; Diagnosis; Investigation; Olfaction.

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