Validation of an Italian version of the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test that is physician administered: Our experience on one hundred and thirty-eight healthy subjects

摘要

Testing for smell impairment is relevant both in ear, nose and throat (ENT) and neurology clinics. In fact, a significant number of ENT patients complain of a reduction in their olfactory function due to a variety of causes, including sinonasal diseases, post-infectious disorders and head injuries. On the other hand, hyposmia in the elderly could be a relevant pre-clinical marker of neurodegenerative disorders, as Parkinson's disease (PD).Multiple-choice olfactory identification tests quickly . reveal a smell dysfunction in a very easy and inexpensive way. Although it is not the cheapest, the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT-40) is the most frequently used identification test to evaluate olfaction worldwide. However, smell identification tests can be significantly conditioned by cultural background. To this end, we have recently developed the UPSIT-40 Italian version and administered it to a large number of parkinso-nian patients and age-matched healthy subjects.