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Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
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Olfactory function in Parkinson's Disease - effects of training.
K Knudsen1, M Flensborg Damholdt2,3, K Mouridsen4
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|April 8, 2015
Summary
Parkinson's disease patients improved their sense of smell with olfactory training. This olfactory training may help in the rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease patients, enhancing their quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory research
Background:
- Olfactory dysfunction affects up to 90% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- The impact of olfactory training on PD patients is not well understood.
- Hyposmia significantly decreases quality of life in PD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if olfactory training can improve olfactory stimulus identification in PD patients.
- To assess the impact of hyposmia on quality of life in PD.
Main Methods:
- Olfactory function was assessed in PD patients and controls before and after training.
- A control group of PD patients was tested twice without training.
- Cognitive tests and DaT SPECT scans were performed.
Main Results:
- Trained PD patients showed significant improvements in odor identification compared to non-trained patients.
- A correlation was observed between olfactory training effects and DaT putamen values.
- PD patients reported a significant decrease in quality of life due to hyposmia.
Conclusions:
- Brief olfactory training enhances odor identification in Parkinson's disease patients.
- Olfactory training shows potential as a rehabilitative tool for PD.
- Addressing hyposmia may improve quality of life for PD patients.
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