Chemosensory Dysfunction in Alcohol-Related Disorders: A Joint Exploration of Olfaction and Taste

Abstract

Chemosensory (olfaction-taste) dysfunctions are considered as reliable biomarkers in many neurological and psychiatric states. However, experimental measures of chemosensory abilities are lacking in alcohol-dependence (AD) and Korsakoff Syndrome (KS, a neurological complication of AD), despite the role played by alcohol-related odors and taste in the emergence and maintenance of AD. This study thus investigated chemosensory impairments in AD and KS. Olfactory-gustatory measures were taken among 20 KS, 20 AD, and 20 control participants. Olfaction (odor detection-discrimination-identification) was assessed using the "Sniffin Sticks" battery and taste was measured using the "Taste Strips" task. Impairments were found for high-level olfaction in AD (odor discrimination) and KS (odor discrimination-identification), even after controlling for psychopathological comorbidities. Gustatory deficits were also observed in both groups, indexing a global deficit for chemosensory perception. Finally, the gradient of impairment between the successive disease stages for odor identification suggests that the hypothesis of a continuum between AD and KS regarding cognitive deficits can be generalized to chemosensory perception. AD and KS are thus characterized by deficits in chemosensory abilities, which could constitute a marker of the AD-KS transition. In view of its deleterious influence on everyday life, chemosensory dysfunction should also be taken into account in clinical settings.

Chronic Cigarette Smoking Associates Directly and Indirectly with Self-Reported Olfactory Alterations: Analysis of the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

“…Instead, studies use smoking as a covariate when examining the association with alcohol use. 28,50 Presently, the odds of altered olfaction were greatest among chronic, dependent smokers who also reported heavy alcohol drinking. These addictions may increase risk of olfactory alteration through pathologies associated with olfactory dysfunction.…”

“…25 Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to depressed olfactory function measured by odor identification 26 and/or odor discrimination 27 testing, and olfactory dysfunction was observed among those with neurological complications of alcohol dependence. 28 Presently, we examined the independent and joint effects of smoking status and olfactory-related risks on self-reported olfactory alteration in the NHANES 2011-2014 dataset. Olfactory alteration was operationalized as an index based on three responses, recorded at the time of the NHANES interview, and treated as a binary classification.…”

Loss of Sour Taste Is the Striking Feature among Four Basic Taste Qualities in Tunisian COVID-19 Patients

“…In particular, estrogen levels can affect taste-induced activity in the periphery and brainstem, particularly in the limbic pathway [ 42 ]. Brion et al [ 43 ] stressed that chemosensory dysfunctions—both olfactory and taste functions—are altered in many neurological and psychiatric states.…”

Brain-behavior relations and effects of aging and common comorbidities in alcohol use disorder: A review.

“…Executive function includes problem solving, working memory, sequencing, fluency, inhibitory control, selective attention, decision-making, strategic memory retrieval, and interpretation of social emotion and interaction (Brion et al, 2015; Le Berre et al, 2014; Naim-Feil, Fitzgerald, Bradshaw, Lubman, & Sheppard, 2014). These functions are difficult to detect clinically, require objective documentation (Wollenweber et al, 2014), and are usually associated with disruption of frontal systems that can extend beyond frontal-lobe borders (Zahr, Pfefferbaum, & Sullivan, 2017).…”