Session Information
Date: Monday, October 8, 2018
Session Title: Parkinson's Disease: Cognition
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Hall 3FG
Objective: To examine the cerebral blood flow pattern of patients of Parkinson’s disease with olfactory disorders, and to investigate the correlation between olfactory impairment and various parts of the central nervous system.
Background: Olfactory disorders, hypotension, and a reduction of isoflupan uptake in the basal ganglia by DaT scan have been reported as risk factors for the development of cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Disorders of the amygdala can cause cognitive impairment, and olfactory impairment is reportedly associated with olfactory amygdala atrophy.
Methods: Fifteen patients with Parkinson’s disease were included. For evaluation of olfaction, a T & T Olfactometer (Daiichi Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was used. We determined that the mean olfactory threshold was 2.6 or higher as a significant olfactory disorder. For evaluation of cerebral blood flow, 123I-IMP (N-isopropyl I-123 p-iodo-amphetamine) SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) was used, and 3D-SSP (3D-stereotactic surface projection) was used to analyze the imaging data. SEE (Stereotactic extraction estimation) was used to set regions of interest (ROIs) in the central nervous system and calculate the corresponding Z scores. Multiple regression analysis was performed using Excel for the average olfactory threshold value and the Z scores for the ROIs.
Results: In the group with olfactory impairment, blood flow decreased in the parietal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus in comparison to the group without olfactory impairment. In the multiple regression analysis, the limbic system showed the strongest correlation with the average olfactory threshold value.
Conclusions: In patients with Parkinson’s disease, blood flow reduction in the limbic system is strongly correlated with olfactory impairment. Olfactory disorders may be useful to index the function of the limbic system for assessment of the risk of cognitive dysfunction.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
K. Ohta, T. Nakajima. Olfactory impairment correlates strongly with limbic blood flow in patients with Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2018; 33 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/olfactory-impairment-correlates-strongly-with-limbic-blood-flow-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2018 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/olfactory-impairment-correlates-strongly-with-limbic-blood-flow-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/