Olfaction in LRRK2 Linked Parkinson's Disease: Is It Different from Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease?

J Parkinsons Dis. 2020;10(3):951-958. doi: 10.3233/JPD-201972.

Abstract

Background: Studies on olfaction in LRRK2-associated Parkinson's disease (LRRK2-PD) have yielded variable results. The impact of smell dysfunction upon daily life activities have been rarely assessed in PD.

Objective: To characterize the olfactory deficit in LRRK2-PD and its impact on daily life activities.

Methods: Twenty-four LRRK2-PD, 40 idiopathic PD (IPD), and 49 age-sex-matched controls were interviewed about olfactory characteristics and the impact of smell on daily life activities. The Barcelona Smell Identification test (BAST-24) and the Spanish-version of the 40-item University of Pennsylvania smell test (UPSIT) were applied.

Results: Nineteen (79.2%) LRRK2-PD patients reported subjective smell impairment with a low impact upon daily living activities. UPSIT score was higher in LRRK2-PD than in IPD (22.54±7.98 vs 18.84±6.03; p = 0.042). All IPD and 95.8% LRRK2-PD patients had hyposmia/anosmia, assessed by means of the UPSIT. No differences were found between LRRK2-PD and IPD regarding smell detection, memory or forced-choice identification.

Conclusion: Most LRRK2-PD patients reported subjective smell impairment and presented hyposmia, according to validated smell tests, with a low impact of the smell dysfunction on daily life activities.

Keywords: LRRK2; Parkinson’s disease; hyposmia; olfaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Olfaction Disorders / diagnosis
  • Olfaction Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Parkinson Disease / complications
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Smell / physiology*

Substances

  • LRRK2 protein, human
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2