Dataset Information

Altered grey matter volume in 'super smellers'.

ABSTRACT: 'Super smellers' are those individuals who show a heightened sense of smell. Data on the structural neuroanatomy of this phenomenon are still missing. A voxel-based morphometry study was conducted in order to compare gray matter volume (GMV) in specific brain regions of the olfactory network (piriform/entorhinal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, hippocampus) between 25 male 'super smellers' and 20 normosmic men. Participants were assigned to these groups based on their scores on a standardized olfactory performance test. Relative to normosmic men, 'super smellers' showed increased GMV in the anterior insula and in the hippocampus (dentate gyrus). These regions are crucial for the integration of olfactory information as well as odor learning and odor memory. Moreover, positive correlations between hippocampal volume and olfactory performance were detected in both groups. Future research should elaborate on how much of the observed neuroanatomical pattern of 'super smellers' is genetic and how much of it reflects experienced-based GMV increase.

SUBMITTER: Wabnegger A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6904410 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Altered grey matter volume in 'super smellers'.

Wabnegger Albert A Schlintl Carina C Höfler Carina C Gremsl Andreas A Schienle Anne A

Brain imaging and behavior 20191201 6

'Super smellers' are those individuals who show a heightened sense of smell. Data on the structural neuroanatomy of this phenomenon are still missing. A voxel-based morphometry study was conducted in order to compare gray matter volume (GMV) in specific brain regions of the olfactory network (piriform/entorhinal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, hippocampus) between 25 male 'super smellers' and 20 normosmic men. Participants were assigned to these groups based on their scores on a standardiz ...[more]

PMID: 30535625

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Project description:Abstract Delirium is associated with long-term cognitive dysfunction and with increased brain atrophy. However, it is unclear whether these problems result from or predisposes to delirium. We aimed to investigate preoperative to postoperative brain changes, as well as the role of delirium in these changes over time. We investigated the effects of surgery and postoperative delirium with brain MRIs made before and 3 months after major elective surgery in 299 elderly patients, and an MRI with a 3 months follow-up MRI in 48 non-surgical control participants. To study the effects of surgery and delirium, we compared brain volumes, white matter hyperintensities and brain infarcts between baseline and follow-up MRIs, using multiple regression analyses adjusting for possible confounders. Within the patients group, 37 persons (12%) developed postoperative delirium. Surgical patients showed a greater decrease in grey matter volume than non-surgical control participants [linear regression: B (95% confidence interval) = −0.65% of intracranial volume (−1.01 to −0.29, P < 0.005)]. Within the surgery group, delirium was associated with a greater decrease in grey matter volume [B (95% confidence interval): −0.44% of intracranial volume (−0.82 to −0.06, P = 0.02)]. Furthermore, within the patients, delirium was associated with a non-significantly increased risk of a new postoperative brain infarct [logistic regression: odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.8 (0.7–11.1), P = 0.14]. Our study was the first to investigate the association between delirium and preoperative to postoperative brain volume changes, suggesting that delirium is associated with increased progression of grey matter volume loss. Kant et al. report that patients with postoperative delirium have an increased progression of grey matter loss compared to patients without postoperative delirium. These changes may contribute to impaired long-term cognitive outcomes of postoperative delirium. Graphical Abstract Graphical abstract

Dataset Information

Altered grey matter volume in 'super smellers'.

Publications

Altered grey matter volume in 'super smellers'.

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