Olfactory Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Purpose of Review: The sense of smell is today one of the focuses of interest in aging and neurodegenerative disease research. In several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, the olfactory dysfunction is one of the initial symptoms appearing years before motor symptoms and cognitive decline, being considered a clinical marker of these diseases’ early stages and a marker of disease progression and cognitive decline. Overall and under the umbrella of precision medicine, attention to olfactory function may help to improve chances of success for neuroprotective and disease-modifying therapeutic strategies. Recent Findings: The use of olfaction, as clinical marker for neurodegenerative diseases is helpful in the characterization of prodromal stages of these diseases, early diagnostic strategies, differential diagnosis, and potentially prediction of treatment success. Understanding the mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction is central to determine its association with neurodegenerative disorders. Several anatomical systems and environmental factors may underlie or contribute to olfactory loss associated with neurological diseases, although the direct biological link to each disorder remains unclear and, thus, requires further investigation. Summary: In this review, we describe the neurobiology of olfaction, and the most common olfactory function measurements in neurodegenerative diseases. We also highlight the evidence for the presence of olfactory dysfunction in several neurodegenerative diseases, its value as a clinical marker for early stages of the diseases when combined with other clinical, biological, and neuroimage markers, and its role as a useful symptom for the differential diagnosis and follow-up of disease. The neuropathological correlations and the changes in neurotransmitter systems related with olfactory dysfunction in the neurodegenerative diseases are also described.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 42 |
Journal | Current allergy and asthma reports |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 8 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2018 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 29904888 |
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ORCID | /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/152545950 |
ORCID | /0000-0003-1311-8000/work/158767592 |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Alzheimer’s disease, clinical marker, dopamine, neurodegeneration, Olfaction, olfactory bulbs, Parkinson’s disease