Odour discrimination and identification as a biomarker of long-term disability worsening in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Odour discrimination and identification (DI) are markers associated with disability worsening and neuroaxonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective

The main objective of this research is to investigate whether longitudinal change of DI predicts long-term MS disease course.

Methods

This is a 6-year prospective longitudinal study on MS patients at the MS Clinic Innsbruck. Clinical, bi-annual visits assessed patients' history and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. DI and cognitive function were assessed at baseline (BL), Year 1 (Y1), Year 2 (Y2) and Year 6 (Y6) by the 'Sniffin' Sticks'/Symbol Digit Modalities Test.

Results

Around 92 of 139 patients were available for Y6 follow-up. Mean DI scores significantly decreased over time (BL =

SUBMITTER: Berek K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10782652 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature