2006/05/01 by Margaret A. Chen, Timothy R. Lander, Claire Murphy · 2 citations
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Down syndrome and intellectual disability research #Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies #Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research #Medicine #Nose #Olfactory system #Olfaction #Population #Odor #Internal medicine #Audiology #Surgery #Psychology #Psychiatry
paper · doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2005.12.035
openalex publication_date 2006/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
OBJECTIVE: To investigate peripheral nasal pathology as a contributor to olfactory impairment in DS. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty DS and 16 non-DS subjects were recruited. Nasal history and symptoms were assessed by self-report or informant. Olfactory threshold, odor identification, and nasal endoscopy were assessed on each subject. RESULTS: DS subjects were impaired on olfactory threshold (P<0.0001) and odor identification (P<0.001). Although DS subjects tended toward upper-respiratory infections, sleep-disordered breathing, and nasal itching, differences were not significant (P=0.07, 0.06, and 0.058, respectively). There were no significant differences on self-reported nasal history or symptoms. Endoscopy showed equivalent health in DS and control subjects. CONCLUSION: This DS population shows olfactory impairment. However, nasal health is comparable in DS subjects and controls. Nasal dysfunction is unlikely to contribute to olfactory impairment in DS. SIGNIFICANCE: Olfactory deficits in DS appear to be secondary to central, rather than rhinologic, pathology. EBM RATING: B-2b.