[Olfactory function in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder]
Jin-ling Zhang1, Gang Liu, Wei Hang
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Summary
Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients show reduced olfactory bulb volume and impaired olfactory function. Olfactory bulb volume, not olfactory sulcus depth, correlates with olfactory function in iRBD.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a neurodegenerative condition often preceded by olfactory dysfunction.
- The olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory sulcus (OS) are key structures in olfactory processing, and their alterations may be linked to iRBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between olfactory bulb volume, olfactory sulcus depth, and olfactory function in patients with iRBD.
- To compare these parameters between iRBD patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Fifty patients with iRBD and fifty controls underwent polysomnography (PSG).
- Olfactory function was assessed using T & T testing.
- Olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.0.
Main Results:
- iRBD patients exhibited significantly higher T & T olfactory scores compared to controls, indicating olfactory loss.
- Patients with iRBD had significantly lower olfactory bulb volumes than controls.
- No significant difference in olfactory sulcus depth was observed between iRBD patients and controls.
- Olfactory function in iRBD patients was negatively correlated with olfactory bulb volume but not with olfactory sulcus depth.
Conclusions:
- Reduced olfactory bulb volume is a characteristic finding in iRBD patients.
- Olfactory sulcus depth does not appear to be significantly altered in iRBD.
- Olfactory bulb volume is a significant correlate of olfactory function in iRBD, suggesting its role in the pathophysiology of olfactory deficits in this disorder.
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