Presentation Details
| Smell, taste, and flavor perception in Parkinson’s Disease compared to non-Parkinsonian olfactory disorders. Shalini Balaji Vilvanathan1, Majd Balbous2, Maïné Dupuis Azizah1, Nikolaus Arlt1, Laurianne Thompson1, Johannes Frasnelli1, 3, 4. 1Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada.2Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.3Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur, Montréal, QC, Canada.4Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada |
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction is a common prodromal symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), with previous studies suggesting a specific pattern. Identifying it can help in early detection and for improving disease management. Specifically, the retronasal component of olfaction could be a potential avenue for early detection. Odors reach the olfactory epithelium by two routes: orthonasal (while sniffing, by the nose) and retronasal (while eating/drinking, by the mouth). Retronasal olfaction is a major contributor to flavor perception, a multisensory modality that influences eating habits, food behaviours and nutritional health, Quality of Life (QoL) and is severely affected in PD. Our objective was to perform olfactory, taste and flavour functions, QoL assessment in three participant groups: (1) PD (27, age: 65.3 (8.9) years), (2) non-Parkinsonian olfactory dysfunction (NPOD) (29, age: 62.2 (7.9) years), and (3) age-matched healthy controls (HC) (32, age: 67.9 (8.0) years). We observed significant group effects for orthonasal and retronasal olfactory threshold, discrimination, and identification, as well as flavor (all p <.001), but not for taste. The HC group consistently outperformed the other two groups across the various tasks. The NPOD group has a better awareness of the loss of smell and stronger effects on quality of life, when compared to PD. Further analyses may reveal intricate insights in flavor perception in PD. In conclusion, our study shows that smell, taste, and flavour perception are severely impaired in Parkinson’s disease, while also revealing that patients are often unaware of the extent and adversity of the chemosensory deficits, in contrast to individuals with other olfactory disorders and age-matched controls.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.