DALLAS: Deterioration in a person’s ability to smell can sometimes be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Now, researchers at the Monell Center have established a collaboration with the Brain Health Registry (BHR) to gain better insight into how changes in a person’s sense of smell may relate to their health status and cognitive function. The partnership will lead to greater understanding of the relationship between olfactory decline and brain-related diseases.
“Declines in olfactory function have been shown to be among the earliest signs of brain-related neurodegenerative diseases, but we need more data to better understand this connection,” said Monell olfactory scientist Pamela Dalton, PhD, MPH. “Adding an olfactory assessment to the BHR’s large existing database may yield the best information yet on the predictive relationship of olfactory function to neurodegenerative disease.”….