Abstract

Background“Early-onset schizophrenia” (EOS) is defined as disease with onset before the age of 18 years. This subset of schizophrenia exhibits worse cognitive function and carries a worse prognosis than adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS). Olfactory impairment has been found in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. However, most research has focused on olfactory impairment in patients with AOS: olfactory function in EOS is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the olfactory identification ability in EOS, and its relationship with negative symptoms.MethodsWe compared olfactory function between two independent samples: 40 patients with EOS and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs); as well as 40 patients with AOS and 40 age- and sex-matched HCs. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered.ResultsThe EOS group and AOS group exhibited worse olfactory identification ability than HCs; impairment correlated significantly with negative symptoms. Olfactory identification was worse in patients suffering EOS compared with those suffering AOS.ConclusionOlfactory identification impairment may be a trait marker of schizophrenia.

Highlights

  • Within the sensory system, olfactory neural circuitry is associated most closely with temporo-limbic and frontal-lobe regions

  • Significant differences were found between Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS), adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS) and sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) participants

  • Patients in EOS and AOS groups had less educational experience compared with HCs

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Summary

Introduction

Olfactory neural circuitry is associated most closely with temporo-limbic and frontal-lobe regions. These pathways overlap with brain regions that are typically defective in schizophrenia [1, 2]. Olfaction in Patients With EOS and AOS of patients with schizophrenia and youths at risk of developing psychosis [4, 7]. These aforementioned findings suggest impairment of olfactory function to be a potential trait marker of schizophrenia

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