1
Return

Dietary habits and olfactory function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: an underexplored association

delete2026-06-09
delete0
PRE
AI
H
Henrique José Cavalcanti Bezerra Gouveia *
S
Shalini Balaji Vilvanathan
J
Johannes Frasnelli
DOI:10.1080/1028415X.2026.2684652delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, including olfactory dysfunction, which may precede motor manifestations by up to 10–20 years. Given the role of olfaction in flavor perception and dietary behavior, olfactory impairment may significantly affect nutritional status and quality of life in individuals with PD. This opinion article discusses the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and dietary habits in PD, highlighting the scarcity and inconsistency of the available evidence. While some studies suggest that lower diet quality and reduced intake of specific nutrients are associated with worse olfactory performance, others found no significant correlations. We argue that these inconsistencies largely reflect methodological limitations. Future studies should adopt supervised data collection, validated olfactory tests, and culturally adapted dietary tools. Clarifying whether specific dietary patterns influence olfactory performance or whether olfactory impairment drives inappropriate eating behaviors is essential for better understanding disease progression and informing clinical strategies aimed at improving symptoms, nutritional status, and quality of life in people living with PD.
Keywords:
Smell
Feeding behavior
Parkinson disease
Nutritional status
Olfaction disorders
Nutrients
Quality of Life
Diet

Journal

Nutritional Neuroscience cover
Nutritional Neuroscience
IF:
3.6
Papers:
1.8K
Citations:
4.3K

Organization

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières cover
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Scholars:
197
Papers: 94
Citations: 3.0K
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers