Olfactory Impairment in Older Adults Is Associated With Depressive Symptoms and Poorer Quality of Life Scores

Objectives: We assessed the association between impaired olfaction and depressive symptoms and poor quality of life. Methods: A total of 1,375 participants aged 60 years or older had their olfaction measured using the San Diego Odor Identification Test. Quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were assessed by either the SF-36, which included the Mental Health Index, and/or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D10). Results: Among participants with olfactory impairment, 15.4% and 20.2% had depressive symptoms assessed by the Mental Health Index and CES-D-10, respectively. Among participants aged 70 years or older, olfactory impairment was associated with depressive symptoms (assessed by the CES-D-10), multivariate-adjusted odds ratio, OR: 1.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03-2.66). Subjects with olfactory impairment compared to those without, had lower SF-36 scores in six out of the eight indices. Conclusions: Olfactory impairment was independently associated with depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2011; 19:830-834)