THE ROLE OF OLFACTORY FUNCTION AND MULTIMORBIDITY IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Peranan Fungsi Penghidu dan Multimorbiditas Terhadap Fungsi Kognitif

Olfactory Multimorbidity Cognitive Impairment Older Adults

Authors

  • Kevin Kristian
    kevin.kristian@atmajaya.ac.id
    Aging Research Center, School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia / Department of Public Health and Nutrition, School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0197-227X
  • Gennesia Vebriana School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia
  • Nicholas Hardi Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5075-7840
  • Yuda Turana Department of Public Health and Nutrition, School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia / Atma Jaya Neuroscience and Cognitive Centre, Department of Neurology, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4527-0285
  • Yvonne Suzy Handajani Department of Public Health and Nutrition, School of Medicine and Health Science, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia / Center of Health Research, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8245-9354
31 May 2025

Downloads

Background: As the population ages, the issue of cognitive impairment is becoming increasingly worrisome, especially with the rise in conditions like multiple chronic diseases and loss of smell among the elderly. Purpose: The goal of this research is to explore how multiple chronic diseases, sense of smell, and cognitive impairment are linked among the senior population. Methods: This study involves 128 individuals a senior community in Jakarta with an average age of 68.34 years. The presence of multiple chronic diseases was determined by looking for highest prevalence of disease pairs, and the sense of smell was tested with an 8-smell test. Cognitive function were measured with the CERAD questionnaire, with a score below 52 indicating cognitive impairment. The analysis included chi-square tests at a 95% confidence level. Results: The findings suggest a clear link between lower levels of education and cognitive impairment (p = 0.018; OR = 3.214), as well as between loss of smell and cognitive deterioration (p = 0.049; OR = 2.565). However, having more than three chronic diseases was found to significantly increase the risk of cognitive impairment (p = 0.018; OR = 2.678), but there was no significancy to support that certain disease pairs were more likely to lead to cognitive impairment. Conclusion: This research underscores the significance of sense of smell and the presence of multiple chronic diseases, especially in greater numbers, as major risk factors for cognitive impairment in the elderly.