Background: There exist functional deficits in motor, sensory, and olfactory abilities in dementias. Measures of these deficits have been discussed as potential clinical markers.
Objective: We measured the deficit of motor, sensory, and olfactory functions on both the left and right body side, to study potential body lateralizations.
Methods: This IRB-approved study (N = 84) performed left/right clinical tests of gross motor (dynamometer test), sensory (Von Frey test), and olfactory (peppermint oil test) ability. The Mini-Mental Status Exam was administered to determine level of dementia; medical and laboratory data were collected.
Results: Sensory and olfactory deficits lateralized to the left side of the body, while motor deficits lateralized to the right side. We found clinical correlates of motor lateralization: female, depression, MMSE <15, and diabetes. While clinical correlates of sensory lateralization: use of psychotherapeutic agent, age ≥85, MMSE <15, and male. Lastly, clinical correlates of olfactory lateralization: age <85, number of medications >10, and male.
Conclusion: These lateralized deficits in body function can act as early clinical markers for improved diagnosis and treatment. Future research should identify correlates and corresponding therapies to strengthen at-risk areas.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; clinical markers; functional laterality; motor skills; olfactory perception; sensory thresholds; therapeutics.