Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Influences of olfactory impairment on depression, cognitive performance, and quality of life in Korean elderly

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite high prevalence of olfactory loss in the elderly, this is typically overlooked. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of olfactory loss on depression, cognitive performance, and quality of life (QoL) in the general population of South Korea, and also to investigate the association between the above variables. A total of 127 Korean elderly aged from 65 to 89 years participated in this study. Olfactory sensitivity, depression, cognitive performance, and QoL were assessed with T&T olfactometry, the Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and a questionnaire for Geriatric Quality of Life, respectively. Subjects with severely impaired olfactory function showed a significantly higher degree of depression, lower cognitive performance, and decreased QoL compared to subjects with normal to moderately impaired olfaction. However, when controlling for cognitive performance, the olfactory sensitivity was not correlated with degrees of depression and QoL. In conclusion, our findings confirm the relationships of olfactory loss with depression, cognitive performance, and QoL; they also indicate that tests of olfactory function could be used in the screening for cognitive impairment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Doty RL, Shaman P, Applebaum SL, Giberson R, Siksorski L, Rosenberg L (1984) Smell identification ability: changes with age. Science 226:1441–1443. doi:10.1126/science.6505700

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Murphy C, Schubert CR, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein BE, Klein R, Nondahl DM (2002) Prevalence of olfactory impairment in older adults. JAMA 288:2307–2312. doi:10.1001/jama.288.18.2307

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brämerson A, Johansson L, Ek L, Nordin S, Bende M (2004) Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction: the Skövde population-based study. Laryngoscope 114:733–737. doi:10.1097/00005537-200404000-00026

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Landis BN, Konnerth CG, Hummel T (2004) A study on the frequency of olfactory dysfunction. Laryngoscope 114:1764–1769. doi:10.1097/00005537-200410000-00017

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hummel T, Kobal G, Gudziol H, Mackay-Sim A (2007) Normative data for the “Sniffin’ Sticks” including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: an upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264:237–243. doi:10.1007/s00405-006-0173-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Santos DV, Reiter ER, DiNardo LJ, Costanzo RM (2004) Hazardous events associated with impaired olfactory function. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130:317–319. doi:10.1001/archotol.130.3.317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Staples LG, McGregor IS (2006) Defensive responses of Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats to cat odour and TMT. Behav Brain Res 172:351–354. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2006.04.011

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Coria-Avila GA, Ouimet AJ, Pacheco P, Manzo J, Pfaus JG (2005) Olfactory conditioned partner preference in the female rat. Behav Neurosci 119:716–725. doi:10.1037/0735-7044.119.3.716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sergeant MJ, Dickins TE, Davies MN, Griffiths MD (2007) Women’s hedonic ratings of body odor of heterosexual and homosexual men. Arch Sex Behav 36:395–401. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9126-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Laska M, Freist P, Krause S (2007) Which senses play a role in nonhuman primate food selection? A comparison between squirrel monkeys and spider monkeys. Am J Primatol 69:282–294. doi:10.1002/ajp.20345

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Aschenbrenner K, Hummel C, Teszmer K, Krone F, Ishimaru T, Seo HS, Hummel T (2008) The influence of olfactory loss on dietary behaviors. Laryngoscope 118:135–144. doi:10.1097/MLG.0b013e318155a4b9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Vernet-Maury E, Alaoui-Ismaïli O, Dittmar A, Delhomme G, Chanel J (1999) Basic emotions induced by odorants: a new approach based on autonomic pattern results. J Auton Nerv Syst 75:176–183. doi:10.1016/S0165-1838(98)00168-4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kline JP, Blackhart GC, Woodward KM, Williams SR, Schwartz GER (2000) Anterior electroencephalographic asymmetry changes in elderly women in response to a pleasant and an unpleasant odor. Biol Psychol 52:241–250. doi:10.1016/S0301-0511(99)00046-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pause BM, Miranda A, Göder R, Aldenhoff JB, Ferstl R (2001) Reduced olfactory performance in patients with major depression. J Psychiatr Res 35:271–277. doi:10.1016/S0022-3956(01)00029-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pentzek M, Grass-Kapanke B, Ihl R (2007) Odor identification in Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Aging Clin Exp Res 19:255–258

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pollatos O, Albrecht J, Kopietz R, Linn J, Schoepf V, Kleemann AM, Schreder T, Schandry R, Wiesmann M (2007) Reduced olfactory sensitivity in subjects with depressive symptoms. J Affect Disord 102:101–108. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Serby M, Corwin J, Conrad P, Rotrosen J (1985) Olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Am J Psychiatry 142:781–782

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Suzuki Y, Yamamoto S, Umegaki H, Onishi J, Mogi N, Fujishiro H, Iguchi A (2004) Smell identification test as an indicator for cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 19:727–733. doi:10.1002/gps.1161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Haehner A, Hummel T, Hummel C, Sommer U, Junghanns S, Reichmann H (2007) Olfactory loss may be a first sign of idiopathic Parkinson’s diseases. Mov Disord 22:839–842. doi:10.1002/mds.21413

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Peters JM, Hummel T, Kratzsch T, Lötsch J, Skarke C, Frölich L (2003) Olfactory function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: an investigation using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques. Am J Psychiatry 160:1995–2002. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.160.11.1995

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Miwa T, Furukawa M, Tsukatani T, Costanzo RM, DiNardo LJ, Reiter ER (2001) Impact of olfactory impairment on quality of life and disability. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 127:497–503

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hummel T, Nordin S (2005) Olfactory disorders and their consequences for quality of life. Acta Otolaryngol 125:116–121. doi:10.1080/00016480410022787

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Chen H, Guarnaccia PJ, Chung H (2003) Self-attention as a mediator of cultural influences on depression. Int J Soc Psychiatry 49:192–203. doi:10.1177/00207640030493005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Shim EJ, Mehnert A, Koyama A, Cho SJ, Inui H, Paik NS, Koch U (2006) Health-related quality of life in breast cancer: a cross-cultural survey of German, Japanese, and South Korean patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 99:341–350. doi:10.1007/s10549-006-9216-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Takagi SF (1989) Standardized olfactometries in Japan-a review over ten years. Chem Senses 14:25–46. doi:10.1093/chemse/14.1.25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kee BS, Lee CW (1995) A preliminary study for the standardization of geriatric depression scale in Korea. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 34:1875–1885

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lim O, Huang V, Adey M, Leirer VO (1983) Development and validation of geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res 17:37–49. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(82)90033-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kwon YC, Park JH (1989) Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K). Part I. Development of the test for the elderly. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 28:125–135

    Google Scholar 

  29. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR (1975) Mini-mental state: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 12:189–198. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Park JH, Kwon YC (1989) Standardization of Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) for use in the elderly. Part II. Diagnostic validity. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 28:508–513

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lee HS, Kim DG, Ko HJ, Gu HM, Kwon UJ, Kim JH (2003) The standardization of Geriatric quality of Life scale. Korean J Clin Psychol 22:859–881

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shu CH, Yuan BC (2008) Assessment of odor identification function in Asia using a modified “Sniffin’ Stick” odor identification test. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265:787–790. doi:10.1007/s00405-007-0551-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Larsson M, Nilsson L-G, Olofsson JK, Nordin S (2004) Demographic and cognitive predictors of cued odor identification: evidence from a population-based study. Chem Senses 29:547–554. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjh059

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Doty RL, Cameron EL (2009) Sex differences and reproductive hormone influences on human odor perception. Physiol Behav 97:213–228. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.02.032

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Gudziol V, Wolff-Stephan S, Aschenbrenner K, Joraschky P, Hummel T (2009) Depression resulting from olfactory dysfunction is associated with reduced sexual appetite—a cross-sectional cohort study. J Sex Med (in press)

  36. Frasnelli J, Hummel T (2005) Olfactory dysfunction and daily life. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 262:231–235. doi:10.1007/s00405-004-0796-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Bonfils P, Avan P, Faulcon P, Malinvaud D (2005) Distorted odorant perception: analysis of a series of 56 patients with parosmia. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 131:107–112. doi:10.1001/archotol.131.2.107

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Reden J, Maroldt H, Fritz A, Zahnert T, Hummel T (2007) A study on the prognostic significance of qualitative olfactory dysfunction. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264:139–144. doi:10.1007/s00405-006-0157-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Doty RL, Philip S, Reddy K, Kerr K-L (2003) Influences of antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic drugs on the senses of taste and smell: a review. J Hypertens 21:1805–1813. doi:10.1097/00004872-200310000-00003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) grand funded by the Korea government (MOST) (no. R01-2007-000-20070-0).

Conflict of interest statement

We do not have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea

    Han-Seok Seo

  2. Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea

    Han-Seok Seo, Kwang Jin Jeon & Byung-Chan Min

  3. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Han-Seok Seo & Thomas Hummel

Authors
  1. Han-Seok Seo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kwang Jin Jeon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas Hummel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Byung-Chan Min
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Byung-Chan Min.

Additional information

H.-S. Seo and K. J. Jeon contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seo, HS., Jeon, K.J., Hummel, T. et al. Influences of olfactory impairment on depression, cognitive performance, and quality of life in Korean elderly. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266, 1739–1745 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-1001-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-1001-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation