A Novel Application for Cognitive Evaluation in Mountain Ultramarathons: Olfactory Assessment

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Alessandro Tonacci ; PhD^a ; ^{atonacci@ifc.cnr.it" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Lucia Billeci ; PhD^a ; Gennaro Tartarisco ; PhD^b ; Francesca Mastorci ; PhD^a ; Andrea Borghini ; MSc^c ; Simona Mrakic-Sposta ; PhD^c ; Sarah Moretti ; PhD^c ; Alessandra Vezzoli ; PhD^c ; Ugo Faraguna ; MD^d ; ^e ; Giovanni Pioggia ; PhD^b ; Giardini Guido ; MD^f ; Lorenza Pratali ; MD ; PhD^a
• 关键词：altitude ; dementia ; nervous system diseases ; psychophysiology ; running
• 刊名：Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：March 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：27
• 期：1
• 页码：131-135
• 全文大小：184 K

文摘

Olfactory function, a cognitive impairment biomarker, was evaluated in mountain ultramarathon (MUM) runners during the Tor des Géants race (332.5 km with an overall altitude gain of 24,000 m; altitude range 330–3296 m above the sea).

Methods

An Odor Identification Test was administered before (T0; n = 53), at 148.7 kms (T1; n = 32) and after the race (T2; n = 28). The effect of dehydration and sleep deprivation on olfactory function was assessed. Olfactory function was also assessed in non-MUM athletes and sedentary controls (C) at rest.

Results

A majority of the athletes completed the olfactory test at all time intervals. Olfactory function decreased throughout the race (T0: 13.8 ± 1.9, T1: 13.7 ± 1.6, T2: 13.1 ± 1.8; T0 vs T2 P = .01). There was no relationship with race time or sleep deprivation on the sense of smell throughout the competition. However, there was a combined effect with decreased olfaction during the second half of the race, while a poor relationship was seen between olfaction and total body water at midterm (T1: r_s = –0.427; P = .019), but not at baseline or after the race. MUM athletes had similar olfactory scores to C (13.8 ± 1.9 vs 13.7 ± 1.4) and non-MUM (13.8 ± 1.9 vs 13.9 ± 1.6) athletes.

Conclusions

This pilot study showed the feasibility of olfactory evaluation as a minimally invasive cognitive impairment assessment. The test can be used in logistically difficult environments, adding scientific value to this promising method. Although olfaction decreased after prolonged physical activity, further studies are warranted to make the relationship between cognition and external factors (eg, sleep deprivation, dehydration) more clear.