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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
10:42
A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Olfactory dysfunction as a predictor of neurodegenerative disease
Mark W Albers1, Matthias H Tabert, D P Devanand
1Department of Neurology, Columbia UniversityCollege of Physicians and Surgeons, 710 West 168th Street,New York, NY 10032, USA. mwa28@columbia.edu
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|August 25, 2006
Summary
Olfactory dysfunction is an early indicator for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Assessing smell deficits may enable preclinical detection of these neurodegenerative diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Olfactory research
Background:
- Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Pathologic hallmarks of AD and PD affect brain regions crucial for olfactory processing.
- These deficits and lesions are observable even in asymptomatic individuals at higher risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of olfactory dysfunction as a biomarker for preclinical risk assessment of AD and PD.
- To explore how understanding olfactory deficits at multiple biological levels can improve early detection and therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on olfactory deficits in AD and PD.
- Analysis of the correlation between olfactory dysfunction, neuropathology, and disease risk.
- Discussion of molecular, cellular, and systems-level characterization of olfactory deficits.
Main Results:
- Olfactory dysfunction can distinguish AD and PD from similar neurological disorders.
- Early-stage olfactory deficits and associated pathology are present in at-risk asymptomatic individuals.
- Further research into olfactory system changes is crucial for early diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory dysfunction serves as a potential preclinical marker for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
- Enhanced understanding of olfactory deficits can lead to improved diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
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