Parkinson shows up with an odor test of the nose

New smell test can detect Parkinson's in the early stages

06/17/2012

Parkinson's disease can be diagnosed early on using a simple olfactory test. This is reported by the researcher and neurologist Heinz Reichmann, Professor of Neurology at the University Hospital Dresden at this year's Neurologists Congress in Prague.

Parkinson's is one of the slowest progressive neurological diseases. The incurable disease usually begins between the age of 50 and 60 years. Rarely does the syndrome occur before the age of 40. According to recent surveys, around 400,000 people in Germany suffer from Parkinson's disease. The sooner the disease is detected, the better the chances of alleviating concomitant symptoms at an early stage. But a cure is still not within reach.

First early test developed
A first early test may have been discovered by Professor Heinz Reichmann from Dresden. In a study, the neurologist examined patients who lost their sense of smell between 50 and 60 years. One in ten subjects showed first signs of Parkinson's disease after an ultrasound examination and further biochemical analyzes. In the second experimental setup with laboratory mice, the researcher was able to prove that the degenerative disease begins in the sensory organ nose. He noted that there is first a collection of so-called "Lewy body" forms. These have long been considered the first Parkinson's warnings.

Parkinson's is expanding from cell to cell
Reichmann presented his sensational findings at the "European Neurological Society" Congress in Prague. This is organized each year by the association of the same name, chaired by the Parkinson expert. At the event, the physician explained that the disease does not begin in the brain areas for motor skills, as assumed, but in the area of ​​the nerve cells responsible for the sense of smell. There, so to speak, the disease continues to move from cell to cell until it reaches the human stomach. Only then does Parkinson's disease reach the brain via the vagus nerve. This discovery may make it possible to "discover the disease much earlier and prevent its spread," said the neurologist. However, a cure is not possible today.

First warning symptoms of Parkinson's
Patients usually experience initial symptoms when around 70 percent of dopaminergic cells have already died. This means that Parkinson's is already very advanced. Many go to the orthopedist because, for example, the arm resonates later when walking than usual, shoulder pain or unilateral muscle tension can be felt. Reichmann reports that a further study work has shown that the guiding symptoms are not only in the coordination of movement, but also in more than 90 percent the loss of the smelling of the patients is complained. Another 45 percent complain of chronic constipation, 10 percent suffer from double vision when seeing, 30 percent of men suffer from impotence and just as many women suffer from "emotional poverty". Another 50 percent are struggling with urinary incontinence, 30 percent of diffuse pain and another 30 percent of depression. Conspicuous also complaints such as anhedonia, the inability to enjoy, suffers at least another 30 percent of patients. In addition, there is heavy sweating and oily skin. In addition, many of those affected additionally suffer from dementia in the last few years of the disease. Also reported at the convention was that crying while sleeping may be a first indication of Parkinson's.

Depression and dementia are serious side effects
According to the scientist, "recent research shows that these symptoms, such as depression and dementia, cost patients more quality of life than musculo-skeletal limitations." For this reason, therapists should also focus more on these symptoms to make patients' lives easier , Although there is still not a treatment for every condition, but there are "good medicines for depression, constipation and excessive perspiration," said the researchers.

To date, the exact causes leading to the onset of Parkinson's disease have not been fully explored. Even a halting or healing therapy could not be developed until now. Many researchers and physicians are of the opinion that Parkinson's is favored by a certain genetic disposition. Patients are then more susceptible to environmental stress and thus show an increased disease risk. (Sb)

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