Background: Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are often associated with a negative impact on the patients' quality of life and on their weight regulation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, apathy, fatigue, depression, and motor symptoms on weight regulation in PD patients. Methods: We analyzed 112 participants, 63 PD patients (mean age ± SD: 69.2 ± 10.1), and 49 controls (mean age ± SD: 68 ± 9.6). For each participant we collected age, weight, height, BMI, olfactory and gustatory function, cognitive performance, apathy and fatigue. Results: Our data showed that 61.9% (n = 39) of PD patients had hyposmia, while 38.1% (n = 24) had anosmia. In PD patients, we observed a significant effect of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), apathy, odor threshold, sweet perception and fatigue on weight regulation. Instead, there was no significant effect for depression and levodopa equivalent daily dosage (LEDD). Conclusion: Our results suggest that PD non-motor symptoms such as olfactory/gustatory deficits and mood disorders may influence body weight.Brain Sci. 2020, 10, 218 2 of 10 function has been observed [13,14]. Subjects with olfactory dysfunction typically show problems with food intake, reduced enjoyment in social life and become more prone to apathy and depression [15].The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, apathy, fatigue, depression and motor symptoms on body weight in PD patients.
Materials and Methods
PatientsWe evaluated 112 participants (57 men and 55 women) in this study, 63 PD patients (mean age ± SD, 69.2 ± 10.1) and 49 healthy controls (mean age ± SD, 68 ± 9.6). In this study, 12 patients from our previous studies [16,17] were enrolled. Data collection started from September 2018 to October 2019 and further participants were recruited at the Movement Disorders Center of the University of Cagliari during regular out-patient follow-up examination. PD was diagnosed according to Gelb criteria [18] and United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria [19].Controls were identified among relatives of non-Parkinsonian patients attending the out-patient department during the same period without evidence of any neurological disease. Exclusion criteria were atypical Parkinsonism, dementia, psychiatric conditions interfering with study participation, and chronic/acute rhinosinusitis. In order to evaluate weight differences between patients and controls all participants were divided into two age groups: 45-65 years (n = 44), and ≥ 66 years (n = 68).