Dementia Japan30:229-235, 2016

Olfactory dysfunction and dementia in Parkinson's disease

Hiroyasu Tanaka, Atsushi Takeda

Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Sendai Nishitaga Hospital

In the brain of Parkinson's disease (PD), degenerative processes are known to involve not only dopaminergic neurons, but also other neuronal systems including cholinergic neurons, and such pathophysiological changes are closely associated with cardinal motor symptoms and various non-motor features.  Hyposmia is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in PD, even from the prodromal stages.  Moreover, severe hyposmia was recently identified as the important predictor of dementia in PD.  Addition to the traditional dopamine replacement therapy, the cholinergic enhancement may hopefully be a new treatment strategy to improve the prognosis of PD.

Address correspondence to Dr. Atsushi Takeda, Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Sendai Nishitaga Hospital(2-11-11 Kagitorihoncho, Taihaku-ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-8555, Japan)