Olfactory ability in normal pressure @entity1276 as compared to XXXX and healthy controls.

@entity1 @entity1276 @entity2649 @entity16 @entity195
OBJECTIVES: Normal pressure @entity1276 (NPH) is a treatable @entity16 that appears in older adults, lacks specific diagnostic criteria, and resembles symptoms seen in @entity195 ( @entity195 ). Presently, differentiating NPH from @entity195 in the early stages of symptom presentation remains difficult. This study established whether olfactory testing may be useful in this regard. In addition, we determined whether olfactory function of NPH @entity1 differed before and after @entity2649 ( @entity2649 ), as well as six months after surgical implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. @entity1 AND METHODS: Twenty-two NPH @entity1 (mean age=77.6yrs), 14 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age=79.9yrs), and 7 @entity195 @entity1 (mean age=75.5yrs) were administered the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Eighteen of the 22 NPH @entity1 were also tested following @entity2649 and 8 @entity1 were tested six months following implantation of VP shunt. RESULTS: Prior to @entity2649 , @entity1 with NPH scored significantly higher on the UPSIT than those with @entity195 [respective means (SDs)=26.9 (7.1) _ 14.1 (4.7)]. While the mean NPH score was significantly below that of the matched controls [control mean (SD)=32.7 (6.7)], their test scores were nonetheless within the general normal range, as determined from published normative data (48th percentile). The UPSIT scores did not differ significantly among the three longitudinal time points in the NPH @entity1 . CONCLUSION: Olfactory testing may be useful in differentiating between @entity1 with NPH and @entity1 with @entity195 . Odor identification test scores of NPH @entity1 are not influenced by the release of intracranial pressure via @entity2649 or six months following implantation of a VP shunt.
