Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Olfactory function distinguishes vascular parkinsonism from Parkinson's disease.

Katzenschlager R, Zijlmans J, Evans A, Watt H, Lees AJ

Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, London, UK.

OBJECTIVE: To compare olfactory function in vascular parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease diagnosed according to published clinical diagnostic criteria. METHODS: The University of Pennsylvania smell identification test (UPSIT) was carried out in 14 patients with vascular parkinsonism, 18 with Parkinson's disease, and 27 normal controls matched for age, sex, and smoking status. RESULTS: UPSIT scores in vascular parkinsonism (mean 26.1, 95% confidence interval, 23.1 to 29.0) were significantly better than in Parkinson's disease (mean 17.1 (14.5 to 19.7)) (p<0.0001), and did not differ from the healthy controls (mean 27.6 (25.8 to 29.4)) (p = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Testing olfactory function may be helpful in differentiating vascular parkinsonism from Parkinson's disease.

Published 19 November 2004 in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 75(12): 1749-52.
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