Smell test could help in predicting dementia risk

An odor identification test could help in detecting cognitive decline and dementia.

In a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, researchers analyzed data from 647 participants from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging who had no or mild cognitive impairment. These individuals underwent baseline assessment with cognitive testing, smell identification testing, brain magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.

After an average follow-up of 8.1 years, the researchers found that the results of the combination of smell and cognitive tests were comparable in predictive utility to amyloid PET testing. They noted that 102 of the patients developed cognitive decline and 34 of them developed dementia.

Though the amyloid PET test offered more robust predictive utility, the findings indicated that the cost effectiveness, noninvasive quality and brevity of the smell test in combination with brief cognitive testing could make it an effective screening strategy to identify patients at risk of dementia.

Read more: Alzheimer’s & Dementia

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