Objective: Early identification of deficits in our ability to perceive odors is important as many normal (i.e., aging) and pathological (i.e., sinusitis, viral, neurodegeneration) processes can result in diminished olfactory function. However, unlike hearing and vision, olfactory function is rarely tested outside of a research laboratory. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of remotely testing olfactory performance using the National Institutes of Health's Toolbox odor identification test (NIH Toolbox Odor ID Test).
Methods: Participants were recruited using the Brain Health Registry (BHR), an online assessment platform which connects participants with researchers. Interested participants were mailed the NIH Toolbox Odor ID Test along with instructions on accessing a website to record their responses.
Results: Data obtained from subjects who performed the test at home was comparable to the normative data collected when the NIH Toolbox Odor ID Test was administered by a tester in a research setting. Age-dependent olfactory decline and gender-dependent sensitivity could be detected using the NIH Toolbox Odor ID Test remotely.
Conclusions: The NIH Toolbox Odor ID Test is a valid instrument to measure olfactory performance via self-administration at home. This approach can be useful for longitudinal studies or as a screening tool for studies that require testing the sense of smell.
Online study partner‐reported cognitive decline in the Brain Health Registry
