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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 2004 Dec;75(12):1749–1752. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2003.035287

Olfactory function distinguishes vascular parkinsonism from Parkinson's disease

R Katzenschlager 1, J Zijlmans 1, A Evans 1, H Watt 1, A Lees 1
PMCID: PMC1738844  PMID: 15548497

Abstract

Methods: The University of Pennsylvania smell identification test (UPSIT) was carried out in 14 patients with vascular parkinsonism, 18 with Parkinson's disease, and 27 normal controls matched for age, sex, and smoking status.

Results: UPSIT scores in vascular parkinsonism (mean 26.1, 95% confidence interval, 23.1 to 29.0) were significantly better than in Parkinson's disease (mean 17.1 (14.5 to 19.7)) (p<0.0001), and did not differ from the healthy controls (mean 27.6 (25.8 to 29.4)) (p = 0.32).

Conclusions: Testing olfactory function may be helpful in differentiating vascular parkinsonism from Parkinson's disease.

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