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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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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Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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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...
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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
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Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

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Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
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Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

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Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
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Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
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Related Experiment Video

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Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
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Olfactory dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Xiuli Dan1, Noah Wechter1, Samuel Gray1

  • 1Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.

Ageing Research Reviews
|July 29, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory dysfunction is a key early sign for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Identifying these smell changes aids early diagnosis and treatment for better outcomes.

Keywords:
AgingAlzheimer’s diseaseNeurodegenerationOlfactory dysfunctionParkinson’s disease

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomarkers
  • Aging

Background:

  • Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), are often age-related.
  • Early identification of neurodegenerative disease risk is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is frequently observed in the early stages of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review human olfactory tests and animal olfaction assessments.
  • To explore the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and normal aging, PD, AD, and other conditions.
  • To discuss the potential of olfactory dysfunction as a biomarker for neurodegenerative disease diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of olfactory testing methods.
  • Analysis of olfactory assessments in human patients and animal models.
  • Examination of the association between olfactory dysfunction and aging/neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Results:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is prevalent in early-stage Parkinson's disease (90%) and Alzheimer's disease (85%).
  • Olfactory function decline is linked to normal aging and various neurodegenerative conditions.
  • A range of olfactory tests are available for human and animal studies.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory dysfunction serves as a promising early biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Further research into olfactory assessments can enhance early diagnosis and risk identification.
  • Understanding OD's role is vital for developing strategies to postpone or prevent neurodegeneration.