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Don’t ignore loss of smell as study links symptom to more than 100 diseases
While pleasant scents are said to impact mental health positively, a new study links olfactory dysfunction to over 100 diseases.
Scientists have now discovered that your ability to smell not only influences your emotions but also is an indicator of underlying health issues.
Loss of smell linked to numerous health conditions
Researchers from the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities, reveal the “powerful link” between loss of smell and inflammation in nearly 139 medical conditions.
While previous studies established that olfactory enrichment, the ability to smell better, could improve memory in older adults, the shocking findings of the new study warn that loss of smell shouldn’t be brushed off as a minor inconvenience.
Scientists hope the new study could help mitigate symptoms of several diseases and possibly contribute to “reducing the onset” of certain illnesses with therapeutic olfactory stimulation or scent therapy.
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“Olfactory loss, which often precedes conditions such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease, may serve as an early indicator of disease onset, allowing for more proactive therapeutic approaches.” the study notes.
Even after finding a powerful connection between loss of smell and diseases, the researchers struggled to track down the studies for so many medical conditions.
They fear that the challenge could underscore the important of the findings of the study which highlight the importance of olfactory health for overall well-being.
Professor emeritus Michael Leon, and researcher Cynthia Woo�who led the study, along with fellow researcher Emily Troscianko, are reportedly working on a device for olfactory or scent therapy.
Smell is a better memory trigger than sight
Are you reminded of home while walking past a bakery? Your nose is more powerful than your sight in triggering memories, it seems.
The complicated neurological process was decoded by researchers Richard Axel and Linda Buck, for which they won a Novel Prize in 2004.
Scientific American notes, that the strong physical connection between the regions of the brain linked to memory, emotion, and our sense of smell could be the reason we are triggered by certain scents.
Furthermore, most memories driven by smell are childhood memories because that is when we are exposed to most smells.
