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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Essential hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity worldwide, but its precise etiology remains unclear. Although its prevalence is high, there is no established predictor for the condition at an early age. Recent research has suggested that olfactory function may be associated with blood pressure regulation. This study sought to explore the association between olfactory function and essential hypertension. METHODS: Thirty middle-aged volunteers of both sexes with essential hypertension were recruited for the study along with 30 healthy control subjects matched for age and demographic characteristics. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and then underwent olfactory function tests to assess odor threshold and identification using the Indian Smell Identification Test (InSIT). The researchers calculated a combined threshold-identification score for both groups and performed the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The study group showed significant olfactory scores in comparison to the control group participants. Control group showed a significantly higher mean combined olfactory score than the study population (p = 0.03). Significant negative correlation between systolic blood pressure and olfactory function (Pearson's coefficient = -0.329, p = 0.011) and a similar significant negative correlation between diastolic blood pressure and olfactory function (Pearson's coefficient = -0.252, p = 0.052) were the other observations. Gender differences did not account for any difference in the smell sense. CONCLUSIONS: There may be a connection between olfactory function and blood pressure regulation in individuals with essential hypertension. However, further research is needed to better understand this association and to determine whether olfactory function could be used as a predictor or marker for hypertension.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. There have been various proposed pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments proposed for preventing cognitive decline in AD patients. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technique used to enhance cognitive functions and motor skills of the brain. Our study aimed to assess the effects of tDCS in AD patients, including effects on general cognitive status, memory, attention, executive functions, language, IQ, and neuropsychological effects, along with the factors influencing the outcomes. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted for relevant evidence using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases for (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) and (Alzheimer's). Duplicates were removed, and the remaining articles were screened for double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (Phase III), case studies, and case series on patients diagnosed with AD using tDCS. The articles were assessed for full text, and studies were selected and analyzed to include in the review. RESULTS: Overall, 20 studies were reviewed. Cognitive status, executive function and working memory, recognition memory, and language function may improve following AtDCS depending on the stimulation polarity and area stimulated. No significant effects of tDCS were seen on attention, associative memory, recall memory, visuospatial ability, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. DISCUSSION: Therapy outcomes and the factors that could affect them were analyzed, which included the number of sessions taken, current density, stimulation polarity (cathodal/anodal/dual), area stimulated, training(s) given, and study timeline. CONCLUSION: tDCS is a well-tolerated therapy that can be used for improving several cognitive domains in patients having Alzheimer's disease. Its treatment outcomes are affected by polarity (cathodal/ anodal), site of stimulation, number of sessions taken, and any training(s) given during the study.