The specificity of a low score on the UPSIT improved significantly to 77% when combined with the Selective Reminding Test immediate recall subscore. Even alone, the olfactory test was a better predictor of Alzheimer’s than was the memory test, said Dr. Devanand, director of the division of geriatric psychiatry and professor of psychiatry and neurology at Columbia University, New York.
Dr. Devanand said this test would also require further study before it could be incorporated into clinical practice. "We think of this not as a gold standard test, but as one we would add to other tests in making a prediction."
The Harvard Aging Brain Study is funded by the National Institute on Aging. The Northern Manhattan Study is funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Neither Mr. Growdon nor Dr. Devanand had any relevant financial disclosures.
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