Anosmia could signal Parkinson’s (Image: Images Bazaar/Getty Images)
Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurological disorder characterised by an array of over 40 different symptoms, including the iconic arm and hand tremor. Affecting roughly 153,000 individuals in the UK, this incurable condition manifests uniquely in each person, with variations in both progression and timing of symptoms.
While most affected are over the age of 50, Parkinson’s can also be found in about 1 per cent of those who are younger. Typically, the three key signs primarily disrupt physical movement, yet there exists a lesser-known symptom that may appear way earlier.
Speaking with the Liverpool Echo, Dr Beckie Port from Parkinson’s UK explained, “Parkinson’s is complex. There are over 40 symptoms which vary from freezing and rigidity to anxiety and sleeping problems.”
She highlighted the unique nature of the disease by adding, “It affects everyone differently and no two people present with the same symptoms. Many people tell us, they experience symptoms related to their Parkinson’s for a number of years before a formal diagnosis, but the dots were never connected.”
<a href=”https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/little-known-nose-symptom-could-31170333″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>Surrey Live</a> reported the principal indicators of Parkinson’s according to the NHS, to be:
In addition to the physical manifestations, individuals can experience various cognitive and emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, and memory issues. Interestingly, anosmia, or a loss of smell, is often among the earliest precursors of Parkinson’s for some patients.
The NHS has highlighted that this symptom “sometimes occurs several years before other symptoms develop”, including those associated with movement. Parkinson’s UK reveals that up to 95% of individuals with the condition experience a loss or reduction in their sense of smell “to some degree”.
While it may be seen as a “hidden” symptom, its impact is profound for those who can no longer savour the aroma of their food, potentially leading to further implications. The charity elaborated: “Loss of smell can affect people in different ways.
“We rely on our sense of smell to enjoy food, so diminished smell can result in weight loss or weight gain. It can also influence your mood, relationships and overall quality of life. Moreover, loss of smell can compromise your safety – for instance, being unable to detect burning food.
“It does not respond to Parkinson’s medication, so is unlikely to improve even with this treatment.”
Dr Beckie Port from Parkinson’s UK stated: “To date there is no definitive test for Parkinson’s, which is highly problematic, nor a cure or treatment to halt Parkinson’s progression. But the earlier people are diagnosed in their Parkinson’s journey, the sooner they can receive help to manage their condition.
“Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world so we urgently need to fund more research, to better our understanding of the causes, signs and treatments of this degenerative condition affecting more than 145,000 people in the UK.”