Olfactory Function in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

An impairment in olfactory function is usually associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. Olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease is considered the most common non-motor symptom, since it is reported in over 96% of patients and often precedes the appearance of clinical motor symptoms. According to the International Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society, the loss of olfactory function is considered as supportive criteria in the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Olfactory function is differently impaired in others Parkinsonian syndromes, for instance, a mild impairment in olfactory function is observed in multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy, while in Lewy body dementia the olfactory deficit is usually severe. However, up to now, the use of olfactory evaluation is not routinary performed in the differential diagnosis of different neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this specific topic is to extend the current knowledge of olfactory function in the most prevalent neurogenerative disorders.

Dr. Tommaso Ercoli
Dr. Paolo Solla
Dr. Carla Masala
Topic Editors