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Updated: May 31, 2026

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.
Abstract:
Impairment of olfaction is a characteristic and early feature of Parkinson's disease. Recent data indicate that >95% of patients with Parkinson's disease present with significant olfactory loss. Deficits in the sense of smell may precede clinical motor symptoms by years and can be used to assess the risk for developing Parkinson's disease in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. This paper summarizes the available information about olfactory function in Parkinson's disease, indicating the advantageous use of olfactory probes in early and differential diagnosis.
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