Initiation of the age-related decline of odor identification in humans: A meta-analysis

Background: Aging is an important contributor to olfactory system deterioration in humans, leading to increased health and safety risks as well as affecting the quality of life. However, it is currently unknown when age-related olfactory deterioration begins in humans and thus when to initiate interventions to prevent or slow it. Objective: To determine the decade in which olfactory function begins to deteriorate in healthy humans by determining when odor identification is first impaired. Data source and study selection: Studies cited in the PubMed database were searched from its inception to March 2017 using the terms olfac* or smell and ag*. The effect size of each comparison was calculated. Results: In this meta-analysis, the effect sizes as determined using Cohen's d for the comparisons between 30 and 39.9- and 40-49.9-year-olds was 0.06 (95% CI: -0.17 to 0.29), between 40-49.9-year-olds was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.20-1.04), considered a medium effect size, and between 35-55-year-olds and those > 55 years old was 1.12 (95% CI: 1.06-1.45), considered a very large effect. Conclusion: Olfactory function deterioration, as determined by an impaired ability to identify odors, starts in the fifth decade of life in healthy humans.