Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Olfactory Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease Patients Better than Medication
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)It is estimated that 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) are diagnosed each year, adding to the estimated one to 1.5 million Americans who currently have the disease. One early sign of PD is the loss of the sense of smell (dysosmia), which often occurs prior to any abnormal movements. The exact reason for this loss is still under investigation, although it may be due to the loss of the brain cells that are used to sense and/or process odors.