title: Subthalamic deep brain stimulation effects on odor identification in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Olfactory dysfunction is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it is one of the earliest non-motor symptoms. A few studies have suggested that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) could improve olfactory function. Our aim was to evaluate the acute effect of bilateral STN-DBS on a commonly used smell test in PD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS and 15 controls were recruited. Patients and controls were tested for odor identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical differences were documented between ON and OFF STN-DBS acute stimulation concerning olfaction. Controls presented a better performance for olfactory identification than patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our exploratory study did not support that bilateral STN-DBS could have an acute effect on olfactory function in PD patients.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Science, Bologna, Italy; Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Guedes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silveira-Moriyama
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Parkinson's disease; deep brain stimulation; odor identification