I understand there’s a smell test that can predict whether you’ll develop Parkinson’s disease. Is it reliable?
Answer:
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide after Alzheimer’s disease, affects nerve cells in the substantia nigra, the part of the mid-brain responsible for muscle movement. The changes lead to tremors, rigidity, slow movements, and difficulties with balance, all of which worsen over time. In the late stages of the disease, cognitive impairment and dementia may occur.
Previous research has established a connection between a poor sense of smell and Parkinson’s. The latest on this comes from a study published in September 2017 showing that people who had low scores on a smell identification test were more likely to develop Parkinson’s than those who scored higher….