Yoshii F, et al. - In patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers explored the connections between olfactory changes and the most affected cognitive domain or degree of brain atrophy. The study sample consisted of 55 AD patients and 27 MCI patients. Using Odor Stick Identification Test for Japanese ­(OSIT-J), smell identification tests were conducted. Using the AD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale, Japanese version (ADAS-Jcog), the severity and nature of cognitive dysfunctions were assessed. According to results, OSIT-J scores were significantly associated with total ­ADAS-Jcog scores, and with ADAS-Jcog subscale items of word recall task, orientation (memory domain) and ideational praxis. The authors concluded that the deficit in smell identification in AD/MCI is strongly linked to the cognitive function memory domain and the medial temporal lobe atrophy.