Identifying biomarkers is an effective way to reach a more concrete diagnosis in medicine for idiopathic diseases. Recent research has shown that smell presents itself as a possible signaling mechanism for Alzheimer’s disease. A decrease in olfactory functioning has been shown in early Alzheimer’s disease patients, but it is still unclear if the severity of an individual’s olfactory deficit correlates to the condition of their higher cortical functioning. The higher cortical functions being examined in this study are emotional memory and decision-making. Because the pathology of the hyperphosphorylated tau (tangles) begins its aggregation in the entorhinal cortex, and beta-amyloid materializing not much later, it is plausible that due to the proximity of the entorhinal cortex to the amygdala and hippocampus, emotional memory and decision-making will be affected, in addition to smell. Interestingly, the piriform cortex, a structure closely tied to the functioning of smell, is similarly close to the origin of pathology. Keeping this information in mind sheds light on the newly discovered, symptomatic component of Alzheimer’s disease, a decrease in olfactory functioning. Patients with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) are being studied along with the comparison group of normal elderly on a variation of smell, emotion, and decision-making tasks. To get an accurate assessment on decision-making, we are using the well known Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). To get an accurate gauge on olfactory functioning, we are using a smell threshold test and several scratch n’ sniff booklets for odor identification and memory. Lastly, for the emotional component of higher cortical functioning, we are using a picture rating, viewing, and recall task. We project the severity of olfactory functioning to closely correlate to the functioning of higher cortical areas."