Olfactory Dysfunction and Long-Term Trajectories of Sleep Disorders among early Parkinson’s Disease: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Previous studies have suggested a connection between impaired olfactory function and an increased risk of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the potential impact of olfactory dysfunction on the long-term patterns of sleep disorders among early PD patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative program included 589 participants with assessments of sleep disorders using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ). Olfactory dysfunction at baseline was measured using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Trajectories of sleep disorders over a 5-year follow-up were identified using group-based trajectory modeling, and the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and sleep disorder trajectories was examined through binomial logistic regression. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Two distinct trajectories of sleep disorders over the 5-year follow-up period were identified, characterized by maintaining a low or high ESS score and a low or high RBDSQ score. An inversion association was observed between olfactory function measures and trajectories of excessive daytime sleepiness (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95, 1.00, <i>p</i> = 0.038), after controlling for potential covariates. Similarly, olfactory function showed a significant association with lower trajectories of probable RBD (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94, 0.98, <i>p</i> = 0.001) among early PD individuals. Consistent findings were replicated across alternative analytical models. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our findings indicated that olfactory dysfunction was associated with unfavorable long-term trajectories of sleep disorders among early PD.