Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes the brain to become progressively more damaged over time, according to the NHS.
It’s caused by a loss of nerve cells in a specific part of the brain. These nerve cells are used to help send messages between the brain and the nervous system.
Parkinson’s disease symptoms tend to develop slowly, and only appear as mild at first.
You could be at risk of the neurodegenerative condition if your sense of smell deteriorates over time, it’s been claimed.
Smell loss is one of the earliest warning signs of Parkinson’s disease, revealed charity The Michael J Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research.
It’s an often overlooked symptom that the majority of Parkinson’s patients develop, it said.
People that think they may be losing their sense of smell should speak to a doctor, it urged.
“Little is confirmed about what causes the early, pre-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as hyposmia, this loss of smell,” said the charity.
“But one prevalent theory in Parkinson’s research about disease progression has to do with the protein alpha-synuclein, whose clumping is found in all people with the disease.
“The majority of people with Parkinson’s disease experience some smell loss. Though many people with smell loss do not develop Parkinson’s, it seems to be the first symptom for many who do.
“Early detection is a crucial step to understanding the causes of and developing better treatments for Parkinson’s disease.”
A loss of smell – known as anosmia – could also be caused by a cold, flu, or sinusitis, said the NHS.
Some people with allergies or nasal polyps could also find their lose their sense of smell.
It’s common for people to lose some of their sense of smell as they get older, it added.
But, you should speak to a GP if your sense of smell doesn’t return to normal within a few weeks.
Other Parkinson’s disease symptoms include a change to patients’ voices, or difficulty writing, said the charity.
The voice may become softer, slurred, or the patient may hesitate before speaking.
Having smaller handwriting than normal could also be a risk factor for the brain condition.
The more common signs of Parkinson’s include tremors, slow movement and a loss of automatic movements.
Speak to a GP if you’re worried about the signs or symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.