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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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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...

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Updated: May 31, 2026

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

Olfactory loss in Parkinson's disease.

Antje Haehner¹, Thomas Hummel, Heinz Reichmann

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Department of Neurology, Medical School, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.

Parkinson'S Disease

|June 21, 2011

Summary

Olfactory loss is a key early sign of Parkinson's disease, affecting over 95% of patients. Olfactory tests can help diagnose Parkinson's disease early, even before motor symptoms appear.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurology
Olfactory Research

Background:

Olfactory impairment is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Over 95% of PD patients exhibit significant olfactory dysfunction.
Smell deficits can precede motor symptoms by several years.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize current knowledge on olfactory function in Parkinson's disease.
To highlight the diagnostic utility of olfactory testing in PD.
To explore the role of olfactory probes in early and differential diagnosis of PD.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on olfaction and Parkinson's disease.
Analysis of data regarding the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory loss in PD patients.
Evaluation of the potential of olfactory tests as diagnostic tools.

Main Results:

Significant olfactory loss is consistently observed in Parkinson's disease patients.
Olfactory deficits are an early, often preclinical, feature of PD.
Olfactory testing shows promise for early risk assessment and differential diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Olfactory impairment is a highly prevalent and early indicator of Parkinson's disease.
Olfactory probes are valuable tools for the early diagnosis and differentiation of Parkinson's disease.
Assessing olfactory function can aid in identifying individuals at risk for developing Parkinson's disease.