article Pathophysiology of non-motor signs in Parkinson’s disease: some recent updating with brief presentation Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy 3, 24-46 (2023) doi:10.37349/ent.2023.00036 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:3574 application/pdf eng Radad, Khaled (Assiut University) Rausch, Wolf-Dieter (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Kranner, Barbara (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Moldzio, Rudolf (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Krewenka, Christopher (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Parkinson’s disease; non-motor signs; olfactory; depression; sleep disorders; constipation Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting 1% of the population above sixty years. It is caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is pathologically characterizing the disease and responsible for the cardinal motor symptoms, most notably, bradykinesia, rest tremors, rigidity, and loss of postural reflexes. Non-motor signs such as olfactory deficits, cognitive impairment, sleep behavior disorders, and gastrointestinal disturbances are reflecting disturbances in the non-dopaminergic system. They precede dopaminergic neuronal degenerations by 5–10 years and are considered the main contributors to patients’ disability, particularly after the successful implementation of levodopa (L-dopa) treatment of motor symptoms. The present general review aimed to briefly update non-motor signs and their underlying pathophysiology in PD. CC BY 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 2023 Open Exploration Publishing