This study investigated the relationship between olfaction and cognitive function in 12 elderly people (age: 80.9 ± 1.6) living in the community. Olfactory function was assessed by the identification threshold for rose odor. Four cognitive measures consisting general cognitive ability assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), its sub-domains, and attentional ability assessed by drawing a line to connect the numbers consecutively (trail-making test part A; TMT-A), were assessed. Subjects with a higher olfactory threshold (≥ 5) declined more in the performance speed of TMT-A (73% ± 7%, p  = 0.05) compared with those subjects with a lower threshold (≤ 4) (averaged value was set at 100%). Other cognitive statuses assessed by MMSE tended to decline in subjects with higher thresholds. Because attentional function relates to the basal forebrain cholinergic system, our results suggest that olfactory impairment links to the decline in cognitive function, particularly of attention-relating cholinergic function.

中文翻译：

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老年人嗅觉与认知功能的关系

本研究调查了居住在社区的 12 名老年人（年龄：80.9±1.6）的嗅觉与认知功能之间的关系。通过玫瑰气味的识别阈值评估嗅觉功能。四种认知测量包括通过简易精神状态检查 (MMSE) 评估的一般认知能力及其子域，以及通过绘制一条线将数字连续连接评估的注意力能力（跟踪测试部分 A；TMT-A），分别是评估。具有较高嗅觉阈值 (≥ 5) 的受试者在 TMT-A 的表现速度上下降更多 (73% ± 7%, p  = 0.05) 与阈值较低 (≤ 4) 的受试者相比（平均值设为 100%）。MMSE 评估的其他认知状态在阈值较高的受试者中趋于下降。由于注意力功能与基底前脑胆碱能系统有关，我们的研究结果表明，嗅觉障碍与认知功能下降有关，尤其是与注意力相关的胆碱能功能下降。