The telltale sign in Parkinson’s disease
The nose doesn't lie: loss of smell reveals more about Parkinson's than previously thought
We've known for a long time that a decline in the sense of smell occurs very early in people with Parkinson's disease, often several years before the first movement symptoms appear. Neurologist specializing in movement disorders, Dareia Roos, investigated the role of smell loss from the very early stages, before movement symptoms appear, to the later, more advanced stages of the disease. She investigated whether smell loss is related to the severity of various other symptoms associated with the disease, and whether this might have a predictive effect on the course of the disease.
Roos demonstrates that olfactory disorders play a crucial role in both the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. A decline in the sense of smell can help identify people at higher risk for developing Parkinson's disease, but it can also help us better understand the progression of the disease. Having a reduced sense of smell in people with Parkinson's disease appears to increase the risk of malnutrition and the likelihood of cognitive decline. Performing smell tests, in combination with other tests and measurements, can ultimately contribute to better recognition and treatment of people with Parkinson's disease.
Loss of smell is often seen as a harmless symptom, but this study shows that in Parkinson's, it can reveal a great deal about the risk of developing the disease, its progression, and potential consequences such as malnutrition and cognitive decline. The results are relevant for people with Parkinson's, their loved ones, and healthcare providers. A simple smell test could, in the future, help identify people at increased risk earlier and improve patient monitoring and treatment over time.
A concrete example: a patient with Parkinson's and increasing loss of smell can be additionally screened for nutritional problems or emerging cognitive changes, allowing for timely treatment and support. This aligns with the current trend toward personalized care and prevention in a society with a growing elderly population. Integrating smell tests into clinical practice is accessible, inexpensive, and can be achieved in the short term, but only in combination with existing clinical and biological markers.
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