Association of Olfactory Loss With Cognition Is Mediated by Striatal Dopamine Loss and Cerebral Perfusion in Parkinson's Disease

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how olfactory loss relates to cognitive decline in Parkinson’s Disease through dopamine loss and brain blood flow.
• Assessed olfactory function in patients with Parkinson's Disease.
• Utilized imaging techniques to evaluate striatal dopamine levels and cerebral perfusion.
• Analyzed correlations between olfactory loss and cognitive performance metrics.
• Olfactory loss was significantly associated with reduced cognitive function.
• Striatal dopamine loss and changes in cerebral perfusion were identified as mediating factors.
• Patients with greater olfactory impairment showed more pronounced cognitive deficits.