Olfaction and Dementia Risk in the ARIC Study
Author Information
Author(s): Chen Honglei, Shrestha Srishti, Zhu Xiaoqian, Kucharska-Newton Anna, Yuan Yaqun, Kamath Vidyulata, Mosley Tom
Hypothesis
We examined the association of olfaction with incident dementia and characterized this relationship by key demographic subgroups and APOE-ε4 genotype.
Conclusion
The study found that poorer olfaction is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia.
Supporting Evidence
- 17% of participants developed dementia over 10 years.
- Moderate olfaction was associated with a 1.5 times higher dementia rate compared to good olfaction.
- Hyposmia was associated with a 2.2 times higher dementia rate compared to good olfaction.
- Anosmia was associated with a 3.5 times higher dementia rate compared to good olfaction.
- APOE-ε4 carriers with anosmia had the greatest cumulative dementia probability.
Takeaway
If you can't smell well, you might be more likely to get dementia when you get older.
Methodology
Olfaction was evaluated using the 12-item Sniffin’ Sticks test and dementia status was ascertained over a 10-year period.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 75±5 years, 21% Black race, and 60% women.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95%CI:1.3-1.9 for moderate olfaction; 95%CI:1.8-2.8 for hyposmia; 95%CI:2.8-4.3 for anosmia.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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