Olfactory impairment as a biomarker in early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in primary care
Authors:
V. Koutná; L. Štěpánek; R. Trajerová; V. Janout; J. Janoutová
Authors‘ workplace:
Lékařská fakulta, Ústav veřejného zdravotnictví Přednostka: prof. MUDr. Dagmar Horáková, Ph. D.
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2025; 105(2): 88-92
Category:
Of different specialties
Overview
Koutná V, Štěpánek L, Trajerová R, Janout V, Janoutová J. Olfactory impairment as a biomarker in early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in primary care
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and early diagnosis is key to initiating treatment. Olfactory dysfunction, particularly the ability to discriminate odors, has been repeatedly identified as an early sign of neurodegenerative changes and may aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Psychophysical olfactory tests such as the Sniffin’ Sticks (SST), University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) or the Odorized Marker Test (OMT) are reliable tools for assessing olfactory function and have potential to complement traditional neuropsychological tests. The combination of olfactory and cognitive tests significantly increases the accuracy of predicting the onset of dementia.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease – olfactory impairment – olfactory tests
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