Olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease: towards an early detection

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects 1% of individuals of 60 years and older. In more than 90% of cases, Parkinson’s disease is associated with olfactory dysfunction that precedes motor symptoms. Here, a series of studies will be presented that indicate that patients with Parkinson’s disease exhibit a specific pattern of chemosensory impairment that allows us to distinguish Parkinsonian olfactory dysfunction from non-Parkinsonian olfactory dysfunction. This knowledge could potentially be useful for early screening for Parkinson’s disease.