Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie·2026
Same author

Vitamin A containing intranasal drops improve odour detection threshold.

ORL; journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties·2026
Same author

Effects of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on olfactory and trigeminal function in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

The German Parkinson expert meetings.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

Why dopamine replacement therapy will stay as a cornerstone in the treatment of Parkinson disease: a personal opinion.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

A new framework for the labeling of odors in the Sniffin' Sticks odor identification test: relevance of familiarity and test-retest assessment.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
07:27

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

Olfactory dysfunction as a diagnostic marker for Parkinson's disease.

Antje Haehner1, Thomas Hummel, Heinz Reichmann

  • 1Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Neurology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. antje.haehner@uniklinikum-dresden.de

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|December 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory dysfunction, or impaired sense of smell, is an early and reliable sign of Parkinson's disease (PD). This smell deficit can appear years before motor symptoms, aiding in early risk assessment for PD.

More Related Videos

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking
07:26

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
07:27

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking
07:26

Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking

Published on: September 26, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Olfactory Research

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting motor function.
  • Olfactory impairment is increasingly recognized as a non-motor symptom of PD.
  • The precise mechanisms linking olfactory dysfunction to PD pathogenesis are under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current evidence on olfactory function in Parkinson's disease.
  • To highlight the potential of olfactory deficits as an early diagnostic marker for PD.
  • To discuss the utility of olfactory probes in the early and differential diagnosis of PD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of psychophysical and electrophysiological studies on olfaction in PD patients.
  • Analysis of data correlating olfactory loss with clinical motor symptoms.
  • Examination of diagnostic accuracy of olfactory tests in PD.

Main Results:

  • Over 95% of Parkinson's disease patients exhibit significant olfactory loss.
  • Olfactory deficits often precede the onset of motor symptoms by several years.
  • Olfactory dysfunction is a consistent and early feature across PD populations.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory impairment is a reliable and early biomarker for Parkinson's disease.
  • Assessing smell function can aid in identifying individuals at risk for PD.
  • Olfactory testing offers a valuable tool for early and differential diagnosis in suspected PD cases.