Search Results (27)

Background/Objectives: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common symptom among people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) and contributes to environmental safety concerns, nutritional challenges, and an overall diminished quality of life. OD is perceived to progress along the lifespan in PwCF, often due to worsening sinonasal disease. Among children with cystic fibrosis (CwCF), OD is poorly characterized as limited resources and tolerance contribute to challenges in psychophysical olfactory evaluation among pediatric populations. The Children’s Personal Significance of Olfaction (ChiPSO) questionnaire was recently proposed as a tool to assess olfaction and the importance of olfactory stimulation among children. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the utility of ChiPSO among a cohort of ethnically diverse CwCF. Methods: Individuals aged 7–17 with physician-diagnosed CF were asked to complete questionnaires, including ChiPSO and the brief questionnaire on olfactory dysfunction (bQOD-NS), prior to undergoing psychophysical olfactory evaluation with the U-Sniff Identification test. Potential associations between questionnaires and olfactory performance, pulmonary function, and demographic characteristics were evaluated using Pearson and Spearman correlations, independent-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and multiple linear regression. Results: U-Sniff Identification score positively correlated with the overall ChiPSO total score [r(13) = 0.640, p = 0.010] and its environmental subdomain score [r(13) = 0.774, p < 0.001], though not with the food subdomain [r(13) = 0.450, p = 0.093], the social subdomain [r(13) = 0.343, p = 0.2], or bQOD-NS score [r(11) = −0.125, p = 0.7]. Hispanic ethnicity is associated with ChiPSO (p = 0.041). Conclusions: In this preliminary study, olfactory importance increases with olfactory function among an ethnically diverse sample of CwCF, with a preferential influence of olfactory function on personal importance of environmental olfactory information. While these results should be interpreted with limitations imposed by the pilot nature of our sample size, our pilot data highlights associations with early adolescent development of importance of olfaction that can be disrupted in the setting of progressive disease among CwCF. Full article

Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a vital role in supporting both the physical and mental well-being of individuals in enclosed spaces, and the role of mechanical ventilation systems has gained increasing attention due to building design’s focus on energy efficiency and thus airtight constructions. This study investigated the pre–post effects of installing a heat recovery mechanical ventilation system (MVHR) on indoor air quality in a high school classroom in Ferrara, Italy. The analysis focused on experimental measurements of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) both inside and outside the same classroom, which had constant occupancy (17 students) for an entire school year, allowing a comparison between natural and mechanical ventilation. With a comprehensive approach, particulate matter (PM_2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radon levels (Rn) were monitored as well, after the installation of the MVHR. By comparing natural and mechanical ventilation, the study highlights the strengths and limitations of the ventilation system implemented, together with an evaluation of the system’s energy consumption, including a 2 kW post-heating battery. In terms of results, the MVHR demonstrated clear benefits in managing CO₂ levels and improving sensory, olfactory, and psychophysical well-being, as well as the attention levels of students. In detail, under natural ventilation, peak concentrations exceeded 4500 ppm, while mechanical ventilation kept them below 1500 ppm. The average CO₂ concentration during occupancy dropped from 2500 ppm to around 1000 ppm, achieving a 62% reduction. However, beneficial effects were not observed for other parameters, such as PM_2.5, VOCs, or radon. The latter displayed annual average values around 21 Bq/m³ and peaks reaching 56 Bq/m³. Full article

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is an underestimated symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple factors may play a role in the OD reported by MS patients, such as ongoing inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), damage to the olfactory bulbs due to demyelination, and the presence of plaques in brain areas associated with the olfactory system. Indeed, neuroimaging studies in MS have shown a clear association of the OD with the number and activity of MS-related plaques in frontal and temporal brain regions. However, these studies have used only psychophysical tests to evaluate the OD in MS patients. Olfactory Event-Related Potentials (OERPs) are a method to assess olfaction with the clear advantage of its objectivity in comparison with psychophysical tests. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the parameters of OERP components (latency and amplitude) and the lesion load of the brain regions which are involved in olfaction in a cohort of relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 30 RRMS patients and 30 healthy controls. The parameters of OERP components and magnetic resonance imaging data (lesions in the CNS) were analyzed in RRMS patients. Results: The association found between the RRMS patient groups with and without OERPs and the number of lesions in the frontal area as well as the correlation between the lesion load in the temporal area and OERP parameters suggest how brain alterations may impact on olfactory performance in MS. In addition, the predictive value of the number of lesions in the frontal and parietal areas for P2 amplitude also highlights the potential for OERP measures to serve as markers for disease progression in MS. Conclusions: This approach to assess the olfaction in MS could improve our understanding of the disease’s neurological impact and contribute to the development of new targeted interventions to mitigate olfactory sensory deficits. Full article

Background/Objectives: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is associated with a variety of neurologic deficits and impacts socialization decisions, mood, and overall quality of life. As a common symptom comprising the long COVID condition, persistent COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) may further impact the presentations of neuropsychiatric sequelae. Our study aims to characterize the longitudinal burden of depression, anxiety, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in a population with C19OD. Methods: Individuals with perceived C19OD completed a psychophysical screening evaluation of their sense of smell using the comprehensive Sniffin’ Sticks olfactory assessment. Only those with validated psychophysical OD were included in this prospective longitudinal study for baseline and one-year follow-up. Participants also completed PHQ-9, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and neuropsychiatric symptom questionnaires at each time point. Anxiety, depression, and neuropsychiatric symptom prevalence was calculated and compared between time points with Pearson’s chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Each neuropsychiatric symptom evaluated in this study was reported by 13–49% of longitudinal cohort participants at both baseline and follow-up, except for seizure (0% at baseline and follow-up) and word-finding difficulty (61–68% at baseline and follow-up). Word-finding and focus difficulties were the most commonly reported symptoms. In total, 41% of participants reported some level of depression at baseline and 38% of participants reported depression at one-year follow-up, while 29% and 27% of participants reported some level of anxiety at respective time points. Conclusions: Individuals with C19OD are at risk for developing persistent neuropsychiatric conditions. These neurologic and psychiatric sequelae are persistent with repeated longitudinal assessment, even at nearly 2.5 years following initial COVID-19 diagnosis. Full article

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a significant concern as it is a risk factor for AD progression, and early detection is vital in order to delay dementia onset and enable potential therapeutic interventions. Olfactory impairment is recognized as a predictive biomarker in neurodegenerative processes. The aims of this study were to explore the degree of entorhinal cortical atrophy (ERICA) and the severity of MCI symptoms; to analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results for the entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, peri entorhinal cortex, and the cerebellar tentorium; and to perform a comprehensive neuropsychological and psychophysical assessment. The main results highlighted that in our sample—multidomain amnesic MCI patients with hyposmic symptomatology—we found that ERICA scores were associated with the severity of anxiety symptomatology. One possible hypothesis to explain this observation is that anxiety may contribute to neurodegenerative processes by inducing chronic stress and inflammation. Future research should consider the longitudinal development of neuropsychological scores, anxiety disorders, and brain atrophy to determine their potential predictive value for MCI progression. These findings suggest the importance of psychological factors in MCI progression and the utility of neuropsychological assessment alongside neuroimaging techniques for early detection and follow-up in MCI patients. Full article

Previous data regarding chemotherapy-induced olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (CIOGD) are heterogeneous due to inconsistent study designs and small numbers of patients. To provide consistent, reliable data, we conducted a cohort study using standardized testing. Patients diagnosed with lymphoma, leukemia, or gastrointestinal malignancies were examined up to five times (T1 to T5), beginning prior to chemotherapy. We examined patients receiving temporary treatment up to 12 months post-therapy. Clinical assessment included extensive questionnaires, psychophysical tests of olfactory and gustatory function, and measurement of peripheral neuropathy. Statistical analysis included non-parametric tests to evaluate the longitudinal development of CIOGD. Our data (n = 108) showed a significant decline in olfactory and gustatory testing during chemotherapy (p-values < 0.001). CIOGD appeared stronger among patients above 60 years, while sex did not matter significantly. However, we identified distinct associations between CIOGD and reported anorexia as well as with higher neuropathy scores. Self-assessment appeared less sensitive to chemosensory dysfunction than psychophysical testing. Post-therapy, olfactory and gustatory function regenerated, though baseline levels were not attained within 6 to 12 months. In conclusion, our data highlight the wide prevalence and slow recovery of CIOGD. Understanding CIOGD as a potential neurotoxic effect may disclose new therapeutic prospects. Full article

Olfactory dysfunction is associated with conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, mental illnesses, and upper-airway-related diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development of an examiner-independent olfactory function test. We recently developed a digital olfactory function test called Digitalscent (DIGITAL SCENT), which is a kiosk-type device with an integrated hardware system. The protocol follows conventional psychophysical olfactory function protocols, including threshold, discrimination, and identification test subsets. Eight healthy participants without olfactory dysfunction volunteered for the suitability test and completed both the YSK olfactory function and Digitalscent tests. Pearson correlations were determined between the YSK olfactory function and Digitalscent tests. Digitalscent could be implemented as a conventional olfactory function test, and all participants followed the Digitalscent test protocols. Limitations in the threshold and identification test subsets included unfamiliarity of the patients to the digital test and incompleteness in the sophisticated release of odorants. A strength of the identification test subset was the dual sensory stimulation of vision and olfaction. Digitalscent could—without facilitating viral transmission—enable early diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction during respiratory viral pandemics. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to facilitate wider use of this digital olfactory function test. Full article

Objectives: To examine if higher degrees of pathological eating attitudes in a non-clinical sample are associated with odour and taste perception and preferences based on psychophysical ratings. Participants and Methods: A total of 80 female university students completed the eating attitudes test (EAT-26), followed by four chemosensory measures including olfactory and gustatory perception plus perceptual ratings and preferences for food odours and tastes. Results: There were no significant correlations between EAT-26 scores and measures of olfactory and gustatory perception. However, a significant interaction effect indicated higher degrees of pathological eating attitudes may be associated with differential sensitivity to sweet and fatty food odours compared to those with lower levels of pathological eating attitudes. Conclusions: This was the first study to examine pathological eating attitudes using food stimuli with a non-clinical sample. The results remain preliminary until replication. However, the findings highlight the need for development of measures of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours that go beyond caloric restriction. Full article

(1) Background: Reports suggest COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction (OD) may result in alterations in dietary behaviors and perceived weight change, but few studies using psychophysical evaluation of post-COVID-19-associated chemosensory dysfunction and body mass index (BMI) exist. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of both quantitative and qualitative features of COVID-19-associated OD on BMI; (2) Methods: Recruitment of thirty-one participants with self-reported OD in the form of quantitative loss with and without qualitative features. Surveys with questions specific to qualitative olfactory function, Sniffin’ Sticks tests, and BMI measures were completed at two visits, one year apart. Group differences were assessed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and the Holm–Bonferroni method; (3) Results: Individuals with persistent quantitative OD (n = 15) and self-reported parosmia (n = 19) showed statistically significant increases in BMI after 1 year (p = 0.004, adjusted α = 0.0125; p = 0.011, adjusted α = 0.0167). Controls with transient quantitative OD (n = 16) and participants without self-reported parosmia (n = 12) showed no statistically significant changes in BMI over the same time period (p = 0.079, adjusted α = 0.05; p = 0.028, adjusted α = 0.025); (4) Conclusions: This study shows an association between COVID-19-associated OD and BMI, suggesting olfaction may play a role in altering dietary habits and nutrition in this population. Larger study cohorts are needed to further evaluate this relationship. Full article

This study, conducted in a single tertiary hospital, aimed to evaluate the 2-phenylethyl alcohol (PEA)-based sniffing bead test as a screening tool for olfactory dysfunction suitable for implementation in otorhinolaryngology and other settings, including general practice clinics. A total of 139 patients were enrolled, all of whom underwent both the PEA bead test and conventional psychophysical olfactory function testing. Characteristics such as age, sex, concurrent diseases, smoking history, and presence of gustatory dysfunction were reviewed. Statistical analyses included receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under the curve determination, and multivariate linear regression guided by the Akaike information criterion. Significant correlations were found between the PEA bead test and various subsets of the conventional YSK olfactory function test: threshold (r = 0.631), discrimination (r = 0.455), and identification (r = 0.596), as well as the composite threshold-discrimination-identification score (r = 0.686). These correlations remained significant even when adjusting for other clinical characteristics. The PEA bead test showed a sensitivity of 0.778 and a specificity of 0.958 for discriminating olfactory dysfunction at a cutoff value of ≥1. These findings indicate that the PEA bead test could be a valuable screening tool for olfactory dysfunction across diverse clinical settings. Further large-scale, multicenter research is recommended to confirm these preliminary results. Full article

Malingering relates to intentionally pretending or exaggerating physical or psychologic symptoms to gain an external incentive, such as avoiding work, law prosecution or military service, or seeking financial compensation from insurance companies. Accordingly, various techniques have been developed in recent years by the scientific community to address this challenge. In this review, we discuss malingering within visual, auditory and olfactory domains, as well as in cognitive disorders and psychopathology. We provide a general, critical, narrative overview on the intermodal criteria for differential diagnosis, and discuss validated psychophysical tools and electrophysiology-based tests for its detection, as well as insights for future directions. Full article

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate self-rated olfactory dysfunction in relation to measured olfactory function after partial or complete subjective recovery in individuals with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. A total of 186 individuals (aged 5–62 years) with a history of COVID-19 infection were included. Visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings for olfactory function (before, during, and after infection) and age-appropriate psychophysical olfactory test scores (odor threshold and odor identification: “Sniffin’ Sticks” for adults and both “Sniffin’ Sticks” and “U-Sniff” for children) were determined. Participants were assigned to four “age groups” and three “recovery classes” (incomplete recovery, complete recovery, no smell loss). Surprisingly, there were no significant differences in odor threshold and adult identification scores between the “recovery classes”. However, children with “incomplete recovery” had lower identification scores than those with “complete recovery” (p = 0.033) and those with “no smell loss” (p = 0.022). The pediatric age groups had significantly higher VAS ratings during and after COVID-19 compared to older participants. Older individuals experienced greater magnitude of changes in their sense of smell after COVID-19 infection, but those with parosmia were 3.5 times more likely to report “incomplete recovery" of olfaction after COVID-19. The general prognosis for olfactory recovery after COVID-19 is good but appears to be particularly confounded by the presence of parosmia, leading patients to subjectively report incomplete olfactory recovery. Although it is of high significance to monitor recovery using validated psychophysical olfactory tests, subjective measures of olfaction help provide specific insight, especially for qualitative olfactory dysfunction. Full article

CNGB1 gene mutations are a well-known cause of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which was recently associated with olfactory dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to report the molecular spectrum and the ocular and olfactory phenotypes of a multiethnic cohort with CNGB1-associated RP. A cross-sectional case series was conducted at two ophthalmic genetics referral centers. Consecutive patients with molecularly confirmed CNGB1-related RP were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination complemented by psychophysical olfactory evaluation. Fifteen patients (10 families: 8 Portuguese, 1 French, and 1 Turkish), mean aged 57.13 ± 15.37 years old (yo), were enrolled. Seven disease-causing variants were identified, two of which are reported for the first time: c.2565_2566del and c.2285G > T. Although 11/15 patients reported onset of nyctalopia before age 10, diagnosis was only established after 30 yo in 9/15. Despite widespread retinal degeneration being present in 14/15 probands, a relatively preserved visual acuity was observed throughout follow-up. Olfactory function was preserved in only 4/15 patients, all of whom carried at least one missense variant. Our study supports previous reports of an autosomal recessive RP-olfactory dysfunction syndrome in association with certain disease-causing variants in the CNGB1 gene and expands the mutational spectrum of CNGB1-related disease by reporting two novel variants. Full article

Persistent olfactory dysfunction is a major concern post-COVID-19, affecting up to 5% of all patients. Different therapeutic options, including mometasone nasal spray, have been recommended, only some of which have been validated for post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. In this study we psychophysically assessed the effect of intranasally applied mometasone furoate on the recovery of olfaction. The spray was applied with a long applicator so that the olfactory cleft could be reached effectively. After olfactory dysfunction had been confirmed psychophysically using Sniffin’ Sticks, patients were randomly assigned to two different treatment arms: the study group (n = 40) underwent olfactory training and intranasal administration of mometasone furoate twice daily, whereas the control group (n = 46) performed olfactory training only. After a study duration of three months, psychophysical testing of olfaction was repeated using Sniffin’ Sticks. We found no benefit of an additional topical administration of mometasone furoate compared to olfactory training alone. These results psychophysically confirm two previous studies which were based on patients’ subjective self-ratings. Our findings are in contrast to current recommendations for the management of olfactory dysfunction post-COVID-19, which might have to be adapted accordingly. Full article

Background: Although smell and taste disorders are highly prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 infection, the predictive factors leading to long-lasting chemosensory dysfunction are still poorly understood. Methods: 102 out of 421 (24.2%) mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients completed a second questionnaire about the evolution of their symptoms one year after the infection using visual analog scales (VAS). A subgroup of 69 patients also underwent psychophysical evaluation of olfactory function through UPSIT. Results: The prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction decreased from 82.4% to 45.1% after 12 months, with 46.1% of patients reporting a complete recovery. Patients older than 40 years (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: [0.07, 0.56]) and with a duration of loss of smell longer than four weeks saw a lower odds ratio for recovery (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: [0.10, 0.76]). In addition, 28 patients (35.9%) reported suffering from parosmia, which was associated with moderate to severe taste dysfunction at the baseline (OR = 7.80; 95% CI: [1.70, 35.8]). Among the 69 subjects who underwent the UPSIT, 57 (82.6%) presented some degree of smell dysfunction, showing a moderate correlation with self-reported VAS (r = −0.36, p = 0.0027). Conclusion: A clinically relevant number of subjects reported persistent chemosensory dysfunction and parosmia one year after COVID-19 infection, with a moderate correlation with psychophysical olfactory tests. Full article