Some people living with Parkinson’s disease experience partial or complete loss of smell (hyposmia and anosmia, respectively). It becomes more difficult for them to detect, identify and differentiate between smells. Since smell and taste are closely intertwined, the latter can also be affected.
Loss of smell can occur several years before the onset of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Of course, not everyone who experiences loss of smell will develop Parkinson’s disease.
Loss of smell often goes unnoticed. When people do notice it, they tend not to realize that it can be associated with Parkinson’s disease. When the motor symptoms appear and they discuss the disease with their doctor, many patients remember having lost their sense of smell years earlier.
Here are a few of the ways in which hyposmia and anosmia can affect daily life:
Loss of smell is an important lead for researchers that could contribute to earlier Parkinson’s diagnoses.
Loss of smell in people with Parkinson’s disease can have several causes.
In the theory that Parkinson’s disease is linked to environmental factors, toxins are inhaled, destroying the region of the brain that processes odours. The degeneration then progresses to other parts of the brain, such as the one responsible for automatic movement.
However, there are many factors other than Parkinson’s disease that can affect sense of smell, including aging.
The following factors can lead to loss of smell:
Loss of smell can be difficult to recognize because it occurs gradually.
People living with Parkinson’s disease often have difficulty recognizing the smell of bananas, licorice and dill pickles.
Other signs of hyposmia include:
If you have some of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor. They will be able to administer olfactory tests or brain imaging to determine whether you are experiencing loss of smell.
7 out of 10 people don’t know that they have hyposmia until they are assessed.
Our sense of smell plays a vital role in alerting us to dangers in our environment (fire, spoiled food, etc.).
With loss of smell, food may seem bland. Consult a nutritionist for advice on how to regain the joy of eating.
You can also explore new spices and foods to broaden your range of odours and stimulate your appetite.
There is currently no medication that can help you regain your sense of smell. However, some patients who undergo deep brain stimulation surgery experience slight improvement.
You can help your loved one with activities that rely on smell. For example, they may need assistance with cooking or personal hygiene.
Loss of smell can affect sense of taste and appetite. It’s a good idea to take your loved one to see a nutritionist, who will be able to help them regain the joy of eating.
Explore new spices and foods with your loved one in order to broaden their range of odours and stimulate their appetite. You can discover new flavours together!
Finally, you can exercise their sense of smell by playing games that involve identifying spices blindfolded.
Loss of smell can occur up to 10 years before the onset of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Its progression varies from person to person. For some, hyposmia will eventually lead to complete loss of smell. Others will remain able to smell some odours.
Loss of smell is currently being studied as a potential way to diagnose Parkinson’s disease earlier. Drugs could then be developed to halt the progression of the disease before the onset of motor symptoms.
