More than half of people with PD overestimate how well they are able to smell. Loss of smell is one of the earliest symptoms of PD and among patients with PD, and nearly all patients with PD exhibit some loss of smell. Why is that a problem? Because loss of smell is one of the earliest signs of cognitive decline; Individuals with the poorest sense of smell at diagnosis are the most likely to develop dementia in the 10 years that follow.
In addition to being a risk factor for cognitive decline, loss of smell is a risk factor for malnutrition. People with hyposmia are more likely to have diminished appetite, early satiety, and weight loss.
In this course I'll explain why smell is affected in PD, show hyou how to test your sense of smell, and cover treatment options for smell retraining.
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Your Instructor
Laurie Mischley studied naturopathic medicine (ND) at Bastyr University and epidemiology (MPH) and nutritional sciences (PhD) at the University of Washington. Her work is focused on identifying the nutritional requirements unique to individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. She has published on coenzyme Q10, lithium, and glutathione deficiency in Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
For the past decade, she has been lead investigator of the Modifiable Variables in Parkinsonism (MVP) Study (www.MVP-Study.com), a global observational study designed to describe the secret(s) to success in a real-world population.
She has maintained a clinical practice in Seattle for over two decades, caring for thousands of patients with Parkinsonism.