Exploring Olfactory Function and Its Relation with Behavioral and Cognitive Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Behavioral and cognitive impairment are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and represent a continuum with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Olfactory dysfunction has been described in a subset of ALS patients and might be associated with frontotemporal and insular cortex dysfunction.Objective: To evaluate olfaction dysfunction in ALS patients and its relationship with either cognition or behavioral impairment.Methods: 28 consecutive ALS patients underwent an extensive cognitive and behavioral battery and were classified as patients with normal cognition (ALS-N, n = 11) or with part of the ALS-FTD spectrum (n = 17), including either cognitive or behavioral impairment or dementia. Odor verbal and visual identification and discrimination were investigated in patients and age-matched controls using a test adapted from the Sniffin' Sticks.Results: Olfactory function was significantly different between ALS-FTD spectrum patients and controls (p

Source: Neurodegenerative Diseases - August 5, 2016 Category: Neurology Source Type: research