# Olfactory and Visual Dysfunction as Potential Predictors of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $589,615

## Abstract

Simple odor identification tests reveal reduced ability to identify odors in Alzheimer's
disease (AD) and in populations at risk for AD because of the ApoE e4 allele, MCI, and a family
history of AD. Neuropathology in olfactory areas in AD is well established in post-mortem tissue
and in a few structural MRI studies. While impairment in olfaction is known to occur in AD and in
those at risk for AD, its sensitivity and specificity, based on simple odor identification tests, has
not been sufficient to render it a serious biomarker. Critical research is needed to test the
sensitivity of impairment in the olfactory system to signal risk for AD. This will require careful
consideration of the methods for testing olfactory system integrity that go beyond simple odor
identification tests. Similarly, there is significant evidence to support a difference in retinal
thinning between normally aging individuals AD; however whether this measure is predictive of
development of MCI or AD in amyloid positive, cognitively normal individuals in unknown. There
is a clear need to investigate whether assessment of multiple sensory modalities in conjunction
with CSF and imaging markers will improve the detection of preclinical AD. This project aims to
address this need using a multimodal approach. It will investigate whether olfactory or visual
function or a combination better reflects the presence of CSF biomarkers or structural MRI
markers of AD in preclinical AD. Building on a foundation of preliminary data, the project will
investigate the underlying cortical structures and neural networks that serve odor recognition
memory, remote odor memory and odor identification in individuals with CSF markers that
reflect preclinical AD, using fMRI and functional connectivity. The project will develop a deeper
understanding of the potential for sensory dysfunction to predict preclinical AD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9875338
- **Project number:** 5R01AG062006-02
- **Recipient organization:** SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CLAIRE L MURPHY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $589,615
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9875338

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9875338, Olfactory and Visual Dysfunction as Potential Predictors of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease (5R01AG062006-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9875338. Licensed CC0.

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