title: Evaluation of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: It is known that the olfactory dysfunction is involved in various neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease and motor neuron disease. In particular, the ability to identify and discriminate the odors, as well as the odor threshold, can be altered in these disorders. These changes often occur as early manifestation of the pathology and they are not always diagnosed on time. The aim of this review is to summarize the major neurological diseases which are preceded or accompanied by olfactory dysfunction. In addition, new instrumental approaches, such as psychophysical testing, olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements, supported by olfactometer for the stimuli delivery, and their combination in evaluation of olfactory function will be discussed. In particular, OERPs and fMRI might to be good candidates to become useful additional tools in clinical protocols for early diagnosis of neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.forename: Rosella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciurleo
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giacoppo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Foti Cuzzola
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Celi
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds