ABSTRACT
Olfactory deficits have been reported to be associated with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), idiopathic Parkinson's disease and several other types of dementia. There has been increasing interest in early and severe olfactory impairment related to neurodegenerative disorders. AD is the most common type of dementia, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between olfactory and cognitive dysfunction in AD and to explore whether olfactory testing, as part of a neurocognitive evaluation, could be a useful screening and prognostic tool for AD.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Dementia , Mass Screening , Nervous System Diseases , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Olfaction Disorders , Parkinson Disease , SmellABSTRACT
Reitakutsukito is a Kampo formulation that is applied for the treatment of olfaction disorder. There have been some reports that reitakutsukito improves nasal obstructions such as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, but none have reported a neurogenic olfaction disorder successfully treated with this formulation. We report a case of olfaction disorder that was neurogenic, successfully treated with reitakutsukito. The patient was a 43-year-old male. After being bruised on the head, he presented with olfaction disorder. He went to the otorhinolaryngology department at a university hospital and received a diagnosis of neurogenic olfaction disorder. However, he did not show any improvement. Fourteen months after the head trauma, he consulted our institution. We prescribed reitakutsukito for four weeks, and his subjective symptoms improved. Treatment with reitakutsukito for almost two years then resolved his symptoms. This case suggests that reitakutsukito could be a useful formulation for the treatment of not only respiratory olfaction disorder, but also neurogenic disorder.
ABSTRACT
Reitakutsukito is a Kampo formulation that is applied for the treatment of olfaction disorder. There have been some reports that reitakutsukito improves nasal obstructions such as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, but none have reported a neurogenic olfaction disorder successfully treated with this formulation. We report a case of olfaction disorder that was neurogenic, successfully treated with reitakutsukito. The patient was a 43-year-old male. After being bruised on the head, he presented with olfaction disorder. He went to the otorhinolaryngology department at a university hospital and received a diagnosis of neurogenic olfaction disorder. However, he did not show any improvement. Fourteen months after the head trauma, he consulted our institution. We prescribed reitakutsukito for four weeks, and his subjective symptoms improved. Treatment with reitakutsukito for almost two years then resolved his symptoms. This case suggests that reitakutsukito could be a useful formulation for the treatment of not only respiratory olfaction disorder, but also neurogenic disorder.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The odor identification tests use natural and synthetic odorants as stimuli. Synthetic odorants span a smaller qualitative range than natural ones, however, they eliminate the need for preparation, preservation and have improved familiarity owing to the improved development techniques. The aim of this study is whether we can use synthetic odorants in odor identification tests by comparing the results of tests using natural odorants and synthetic ones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two natural and 21 synthetic odorants familiar to Koreans were applied to 40 normals and 20 patients with decreased sense of smell without sinonasal diseases. Percent-correctness shown by the controls and patients smelling natural and synthetic odorants were compared with those patients showing over 95% identifiability and in 11 corresponding natural and synthetic odorants. RESULTS: Percent-correctness of odor identification test using synthetic odorants was highly correlated with that using natural ones and there was no problem in discriminating patients from the control. CONCLUSION: Synthetic odorants can be used in odor identification tests for Koreans in a clinical context.
Subject(s)
Humans , Odorants , Olfaction Disorders , Recognition, Psychology , SmellABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The odorant confusion matrix (OCM) odor identification test is a kind of suprathreshold odor identification test using 10 synthetic odorants as stimuli and confusion matrix consisted of closed alternatives. This test is known to have an advantage in qualitative diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction by analyzing mis-identification of odorants at specific nerve dysfunctions. The aim of this study is whether we can use this OCM odor identification test for comparing normals with patients with olfactory disturbance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The OCM odor identification test using 10 synthetic odorants familiar to Korean was applied to 40 normals and 32 patients who showed decreased sense of smell without sinonasal diseases. Percent-corrects of normals were compared with patients and with olfactory thresholds by a modified ascending method of limits (CCCRC) test using successively diluted 1-butanol. RESULTS: Percent-corrects of normals in the OCM odor identification test was higher than those of patients with statistical significance (p<0.001), and the results of OCM odor identification test was well correlated with those of the CCCRC olfactory threshold test (r=0.77). CONCLUSION: The OCM odor identification test exhibited no problems in discriminating patients from normals and can be used in clinical contexts.