Serious Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease

Loss Of Ability To Smell

Losing the ability to smell is not always an indicator of Parkinson's disease, and it could be indicative of several things. With that said, the majority of individuals with Parkinson's disease have lost some sense of smell. Hyposmia, the medical term for a reduced sense of smell, can often be pinpointed as an early sign of Parkinson's disease. Some patients can pinpoint their loss of smell as having started several years before their Parkinson's disease diagnosis. Because the loss of the sense of smell is so gradual, and because we don't often pay much active attention to what we're smelling, many individuals don't notice it right away. Patients are unlikely to report it, and doctors don't often ask about it. One way to check for hyposmia is by smelling licorice, pickles, bananas, or other foods with strong odors. If individuals have trouble identifying the scents, they should talk to a doctor.

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