Olfactory function in patients with Parkinsons disease / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the olfactory function in Chinese patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) and its application in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Parkinsonism Methods The thresholds of olfactory detection and identification were determined by using “five odors olfactory detection arrays” provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences for the 50 PD patients, 30 healthy controls, 30 persons with other neurological diseases, and 7 atypical Parkinsons disease patients Results The olfactory detection and identification thresholds of PD patients were significantly higher than those of the normal controls and than those with other neurological diseases But the olfactory identification threshold of PD patients was significantly higher than those with atypical Parkinsons disease The sensitivity and specificity in the olfactory test were 74 0% and 91 7%, respectively by combining the olfactory detection and identification thresholds together Conclusions The olfactory function was found significantly decreased in PD patients The olfactory test might play an important role in the diagnosis and differentiated diagnosis of PD