Olfaction and apathy in early idiopathic Parkinson's disease

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-15-2022

Publication Title

Journal of the neurological sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Apathy remains a disabling symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) with limited therapeutic success. Processing of emotions and smell share neuroanatomical and evolutionary pathways.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of apathy with smell dysfunction (SD) in early PD.

METHODS: We analyzed patients with de-novo PD, with follow-up of at least 5 years from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. SD and apathy were defined using University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and MDS-UPDRS part 1A. Odds ratios were calculated between apathy and olfaction groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was grouped by presence/ absence of smell dysfunction. The Log Rank test was used to compare time to apathy.

RESULTS: We found no association between presence of apathy in patients with and without SD (OR 1.01 [0.49-2.08]). There was no significant difference between PD patients with and without SD in time to apathy (p = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS: SD does not portend greater risk of apathy in PD.

Medical Subject Headings

Apathy; Emotions; Humans; Olfaction Disorders; Parkinson Disease; Smell

PubMed ID

35679630

Volume

439

First Page

120314

Last Page

120314

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