sensual dysfunction in PD

Q: Which sensual dysfunction is considered to be a predictor or even the first sign of Parkinson's Disease (PD) for elderly adults? - select one

A) Olfactory 

B) Auditory

C) Tactile

D) visual

E) Dysgeusia

Answer: A

Olfactory dysfunction usually precedes motor symptoms. It is one of the earliest dysfunctions affecting all three components: odor identification, discrimination, and detection. Some experts consider it a first sign of PD (Reference #3). Usually, it gets missed, but it has an increased risk of PD in the next decade of life.

Although visual hallucinations, psychosis, delusions, and depression also occur in PD and are well known, they appear a little later or along with motor symptoms.

#neurology

#psychiatry

References:

1. Ponsen MM, Stoffers D, Booij J, et al. Idiopathic hyposmia as a preclinical sign of Parkinson's disease. Ann Neurol 2004; 56:173.

2. Ross GW, Petrovitch H, Abbott RD, et al. Association of olfactory dysfunction with risk for future Parkinson's disease. Ann Neurol 2008; 63:167.

3. Haehner A, Hummel T, Hummel C, et al. Olfactory loss may be a first sign of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2007; 22:839.

4. Fénelon G, Mahieux F, Huon R, Ziégler M. Hallucinations in Parkinson's disease: prevalence, phenomenology and risk factors. Brain 2000; 123 ( Pt 4):733.