Restless legs syndrome and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction: A community‐based study

Abstract

Background and purpose: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been suggested as a prodromal symptom of Parkinson disease (PD). Olfactory or taste dysfunction can also occur preceding PD diagnosis. However, whether RLS is associated with chemosensory dysfunction remains unknown. We thus aim to investigate the association between RLS and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis including 90,337 Chinese adults free of neurodegenerative diseases in the Kailuan study in 2016. Presence of RLS was defined using revised RLS diagnostic criteria or the Cambridge-Hopkins questionnaire for RLS.Perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction was collected via a questionnaire. The association between RLS and perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction was assessed using logistic regression model, adjusting for potential cofounders such as age, sex, and medical history.Results: RLS was associated with high odds of having perceived olfactory and/or taste dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio = 5.92, 95% confidence interval = 3.11-11.3). The significant association persisted when using the Cambridge-Hopkins questionnaire (adjusted odds ratio = 5.55, 95% confidence interval = 2.37-13.0) or when excluding participants with major chronic diseases.Conclusions: RLS was associated with increased odds of perceived olfactory and taste dysfunction.

Diet Quality is Associated with Prodromal Parkinson's Disease Features in Chinese Adults

“…Constipation was defined as either having a bowel movement frequency of every other day or less or using laxative 28 . Hyposmia was defined based on a series of two questions adapted from the US 1994 Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey: “Did you have any olfactory disorder (lasting three months or longer)?”, and “If the answer is yes, what symptom?” with four possible answers: “a loss in the ability to smell”, “a change in the way odors are perceived”, “both”, or “I don't know” 29,30 . Having a response to the second question as “a loss in the ability to smell” or “both” was defined as hyposmia.…”

“…with four possible answers: "a loss in the ability to smell", "a change in the way odors are perceived", "both", or "I don't know". 29,30 Having a response to the second question as "a loss in the ability to smell" or "both" was defined as hyposmia. Excessive daytime sleepiness was defined as answering "often" to a question, "Do you get so sleepy during the day or the evening that you have to take a nap?".…”