A Study of the Sense of Smell in Relatives of Parkinson's Disease Patients

This study would extend the findings of previous studies by characterizing the performance of
the 40-item UPSIT in a cohort of first-degree relatives of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
The results would also validate the use of the University of Pennsylvania Smell
Identification Test (UPSIT) as a mail-survey instrument. Once identified, these individuals
could be followed as a potentially at-risk cohort to determine if the screening evaluation
was predictive of later developing Parkinson's disease. The results from this pilot study
have the potential to guide the use of olfactory testing using the UPSIT as a screening tool,
and to provide necessary preliminary data for planning clinical trials to prevent the
occurrence of PD in at-risk individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subject must be a first-degree relative of a PD patient with diagnosis confirmed by a
movement disorders specialist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders

- Subject must not carry a diagnosis of PD or other neurodegenerative disorder

- Subject must be either at least 50 years old or within 10 years of the age of onset of
their affected relative

- Subject must be a non-smoker

- Subject must have no other known reason for abnormal olfaction (e.g. nasal trauma)