What additional information is needed to use this association to prevent or treat these diseases?

This is an excellent question because it is opens the door to a serious medical issue which is the ignoring of seemingly simple symptoms which could be the door to life changing medical conditions.

The first thing that is needed is a good differential diagnosis so that treatment for the correct condition can be initiated.

Although there are similarities between Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, the primary treatments are not the same because many of the symptoms are not the same. Supplemental treatments can be quite similar depending upon the medications used in the primary treatment.

Although both conditions have both motor and non-motor symptoms, PD has more initial motor symptoms while AD manifests more cognitive symptoms.

It is also important to distinguish between both conditions and normal aging and even more important not to rationalize the symptoms as aging when there are other markers of disease. Anosmia also presents in Lewy Body Dementia, PDD, and Alzheimer’s with Leewy Body Dementia as well as several other conditions such as: diabetes, Huntington’s disease, malnutrition, brain tumor, MS, medications, certain chemical exposures, Schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, zinc deficiency.

If anosmia presents as a solitary symptom, it would also be helpful to treat it as such and take a look at zinc levels for example. However, if anosmia presents as being 10% less than normal aging (a 10% increase actually) then it is time to look at AD as a possible cause of the condition. It is also important to note the progression of the anosmia.

The benefit of early treatment in both AD and PD has the goal of slowing the progression of the diseases although that is not always possible.

In PD it would be a combination therapy involving a medication such as Azilect, with nutritional supplements such as CoQ10 and other antioxidants to relieve oxidative stress, vitamin B complex, vitamin D3 (higher dosages are now suggested to maintain the immune system) and several others.

In AD therapies are being developed to clear the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Currently doctors use chlorinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept (donezepil hcl) and Excelon (rivastigimine - available as a patch for continuous delivery). Nutritional supplements can be added such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT) combined with coconut oil and Omega 3 oils.

Although smoking appears to defer PD, it is said to increase your chances of developing AD by 79%. And obesity can increase the chances by 3.5X. Chronic stress is an early indicator in both PD and AD. Essentially, there are other conditions which should be controlled well if they are present: diabetes, hypertension, higcholesterolol, heart disease, obesity, sleep disorders (which are actually symptomatic) inactive lifestyle.

A change of diet is felt to be in order. The Mediterranean diet is now recommended. Several small meals throughout the day, green and black teas have been found to be beneficial in PD and would apply to AD as well.

Exercise should be both physical and mental for both AD and PD. Forced Exercise for PD has been shown to help restore some brain homeostasis, reduce reliance on meds and to relieve symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Yoga helps relaxation and breathing.

I don’t want to get into the NSAID debate here because of the risk of kidney and liver damage without regular testing but there is evidence that ibuprofen can delay onset of AD. I am adding 2 links below for AD and one for PD. There is no question that reducing the risk levels are highly significant.

But the most important thing is education of the medical staff through continuing education of the early warning signs and the importance of being aware of, open to, to follow-up on these early warning symptoms. The next most important thing is for patients and their families (especially the caregivers) to be proactive. Do not accept, "well, it isn’t this, so go home." Always ask, "What’s the next step?" If that isn’t forthcoming, ask until there is an affirmative action. Just because a suggested treatment is not a prescription, it does not mean that there should not be a follow-up appointment ina few months with re-determinationon made at that time.

One last note: if a diagnosis is made of PD or AD, it is a good time to get your house in order. Better not to need the financial, medical and legal plans than to need them and not be capable of making them.

additional reading:
http://zebra.sc.edu/smell/james/james_doc.html
http://theamazingworldofpsychiatry.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/anosmia-in-lewy-body-dementia/
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/3627
http://alzheimers.about.com/od/treatmentofalzheimers/a/treatments.htm
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/05/forced-exercise-to-relieve-parkinsons.html
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20080505/ibuprofen-may-cut-alzheimers-risk
http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/031097/ibuprofe.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050414202516.htm

Parkinson’s disease. What additonal information is needed to use this assocation to prevent or treat these diseases?

First of all, the loss of the sense of smell, ansomia, occurs during Alzheimer’s, it is usually not a precursor symptom as it can be in Parkinson’s disease. There might be some instances where it precedes AD, but the medical inclination would be to look at other conditions, especially PD.

When it is found, it is important that the patient list every symptom they have noticed no matter how unrelated they may seem. Since the blood test for PD has not reached the market yet and there are no other tests to quantify the disease, it would be important to refer the patient to a neurologist who specializes in motion disorders despite the fact that ansomia is a non-motor symptom of PD.

Anosmia itself can have several causes and related conditions. That symptom alone is not enough to direct attention to PD but with what is known now, it should be AFTER ruling out other conditions:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/anosmia/book-causes-8a.htm
From the site above:
"Begin the patient history by asking about the onset and duration of anosmia and related signs and symptoms—stuffy nose, nasal discharge or bleeding, postnasal drip, sneezing, dry or sore mouth and throat, loss of sense of taste or appetite, excessive tearing, and facial or eye pain. Pinpoint any history of nasal disease, allergies, or head trauma. Ask about heavy smoking and the use of prescribed or over-the-counter nose drops or nasal sprays. Be sure to rule out cocaine use.

Inspect and palpate nasal structures for obvious injury, inflammation, deformities, and septal deviation or perforation. Observe the contour and color of the nasal mucosa and the size and color of the turbinates. Check for polyps, which appear as translucent white masses around the middle meatus. Note the source and character of any nasal discharge. Palpate the sinus areas for tenderness and contour.
Assess the patient for nasal obstruction by occluding one nostril at a time with your thumb as the patient breathes quietly; listen for breath sounds and for sounds of moisture or mucus. Test olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) function by having the patient identify common odors."

As the medical profession as a whole begins to think outside the box until it becomes inside the box and has specific testing procedures for PD, it is partly up to the patient not to accept "well it isn’t this" without finding out what "it" is.

From Wrong Diagnosis.com are questions which the medical team should be asking:
ANOSMIA OR UNUSUAL ODORS: Ask the following questions:
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

1.Is it acute or chronic? Acute Loss of Smell would certainly suggest an acute upper respiratory infection (URI). It would also suggest recent exposure to toxic fumes or recent head injury. If the anosmia or unusual odor is intermittent, then one should consider psychomotor epilepsy.
2.Is there a history of trauma? A skull fracture, particularly if it involves the cribriform plate, may interrupt the olfactory nerves and cause anosmia.
3.Is there a history of drug use or overuse of nasal sprays? Captopril and penicillamine may cause anosmia. Overuse of alcohol or tobacco may also be the problem. Anti-rheumatic and antiproliferative drugs are also known to cause anosmia.
4.Is the anosmia unilateral or bilateral? If there is unilateral anosmia, one should consider an olfactory groove meningioma.
5.Are there other neurologic signs? Multifocal neurologic signs should suggest multiple sclerosis, and additional neurologic signs such as memory loss should suggest an olfactory groove meningioma or parietal lobe tumor.
6.Are there signs of a systemic disease? Many systemic diseases may cause anosmia, including hypothyroidism, diabetes, renal failure, hepatic failure, and pernicious anemia
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/anosmia/diagnosis.htm

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled.
You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most
drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND Please read this
CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know.

STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient.

It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain)
among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use
of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA
recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative
medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children’s Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Col d & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal
Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough …..

I just found out and called the 800# on the container
for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily
recalling the following medicines because of a certain
ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
3D Cold & Cough Berry
3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with
the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you
to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a
refund. If you know of anyone else with small children,
PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so people are
informed. They can then pass it along to their families.

To confirm these findings please take time to check the
following:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY GIVE IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

Hey Thanks a Bunch Buddy !
God Bless your Soul for being a Good Person !
Take Care and God Bless you.

Yes. The actual taste buds can detect only four sensations - sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. All the other nuances of flavor are a result of aroma.

My friend told me that she’s been unable to focus lately, and losing her senses of taste and smell since she started spray painting. We both figured that it was the spray paint, but I’d just like to know if we’re right, and if there’s any way to fix it.

First; STOP THE SPRAYPAINTING AND WEAR A MASK! Wear a mask and see if the sences come back. If not. Then go to the doctor.

I am anosmic ( no sense of smell and taste). I have heard that celiac disease can cause this. I have tummy problems often, and will be having tests done soon.

I haven’t spotted any known link between the two in my online searches, but I personally have celiac disease and I had a period in high school where my sense of smell went away for like 6 months. That was the period of time when my celiac was really bad too. I’m glad you’re getting tested. Even if it comes back negative, I would still suggest getting tested. There are false negatives for celiac and you could always have another form of non-celiac gluten intolerance. Apparently the non-celiac kind is more common than the celiac kind, so the test won’t help you if that’s the case. My health improved dramatically when I went gluten free, it was such a miracle in my life. Good luck!

I always hear about people having insane food cravings, especially chocolate. I lose my appetite completely–food tastes, smells, textures are especially unpleasant. in fact, usually even thinking about food during my period makes me feel ill. is this normal?

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Ok well im 15 about to be 16, And lately like within the past few days i havent been eating as much as normal and the smell of food has been making me feel kinda sick, Also my stomach has been kinda upseat. What would cause this?

Well, if you’re sexually active you could be pregnant.
Typically when you’re pregnant you feel yucky like that.
If you are sure you aren’t pregnant, you could just have the common bug that’s going around. Eat some saltine crackers if you can, they help.
To help your stomach feel better, you can take some pepto or "Little Tummies" it’s a sugary medicine you can buy at CVS that doesn’t taste bad, and it works tremendously.
Hope you feel better soon!

I recently got cold-like symptoms and I have lost my sense of smell. I have a cough and a stuffed nose. Even when the stuffy nose cleared, I am still not able to smell anything. Is this a serious matter? Or should I just leave it alone?

it’s very normal with a cold. especially if you have the cough, as the mouth and the nose is very interconnected. sometimes you can’t taste because of the stuffy nose, and sometimes you can’t smell because of the phlegm from your throat. once you get better though, things should clear out. take the necessary medicine aight?

I recently got cold-like symptoms and I have lost my sense of smell. I have a cough and a stuffed nose. Even when the stuffy nose cleared, I am still not able to smell anything. Is this a serious matter? Or should I just leave it alone?

it’s very normal with a cold. especially if you have the cough, as the mouth and the nose is very interconnected. sometimes you can’t taste because of the stuffy nose, and sometimes you can’t smell because of the phlegm from your throat. once you get better though, things should clear out. take the necessary medicine aight?