Wehling Eike, Lundervold Astri J, Espeset Thomas, Reinvang Ivar, Bramerson Annika, Nordin Steven
Rhinology. 2015 Mar;53(1):89-94. doi: 10.4193/Rhino14.081.
Past findings of an impact of cognitive impairment on awareness of olfactory dysfunction, and high prevalence of age-associated cognitive impairment motivated the present study of whether middle-aged and elderly adults are unaware of an olfactory dysfunction despite being carefully screened for cognitive impairment.
The sample included 203 Norwegian participants, aged 46-79 years, 134 women and 69 men, who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment for screening of cognitive impairment. Subjective assessment of olfactory function ("How would you estimate your sense of smell?") was compared with outcome on objective assessment of olfactory function with the Scandinavian Odor Identification Test, which in the present study was shown to be valid for use on Norwegian populations.
We found that 79% of this cognitively healthy sample with objectively assessed olfactory dysfunction reported normal olfactory function (57% of functionally anosmics reported normal function). In contrast, only 9% with objectively assessed normal olfactory function reported olfactory dysfunction.
A large proportion of cognitively well-functioning middle-aged and elderly adults with an olfactory dysfunction are unaware of their dysfunction. The ENT physician who suspects that the sense of smell may be compromised should, in addition to an anamnesis, assess the patient`s olfactory function objectively.
过去关于认知障碍对嗅觉功能障碍认知有影响的研究结果，以及年龄相关认知障碍的高患病率，促使开展本研究，以探讨尽管对认知障碍进行了仔细筛查，但中老年成年人是否仍未意识到自己存在嗅觉功能障碍。
样本包括203名挪威参与者，年龄在46 - 79岁之间，其中134名女性和69名男性，他们接受了全面的神经心理学评估以筛查认知障碍。嗅觉功能的主观评估（“您如何评价自己的嗅觉？”）与使用斯堪的纳维亚气味识别测试进行的嗅觉功能客观评估结果进行了比较，在本研究中该测试被证明对挪威人群有效。
我们发现，在这个经客观评估存在嗅觉功能障碍的认知健康样本中，79%的人报告嗅觉功能正常（在功能上嗅觉丧失的人中，57%报告嗅觉功能正常）。相比之下，在经客观评估嗅觉功能正常的人中，只有9%报告有嗅觉功能障碍。
很大一部分嗅觉功能障碍的认知功能良好的中老年成年人并未意识到自己的功能障碍。怀疑嗅觉可能受损的耳鼻喉科医生，除了进行问诊外，还应客观评估患者的嗅觉功能。
