A new study has uncovered a strong link between losing your sense of smell and over 100 different health conditions.
Researchers from the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, along with The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities, found that losing the ability to smell might be more than just an annoyance—it could signal deeper health issues.
Led by Professor Emeritus Michael Leon and researchers Cynthia Woo and Emily Troscianko, the study looked at 139 diseases that show a connection between smell loss and inflammation.
Published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, the research suggests that losing the sense of smell, known as olfactory dysfunction, may actually be an early warning sign for a variety of serious conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
This means that a simple change in the sense of smell might hint at potential health problems before other symptoms appear.
Dr. Leon highlighted that the study is especially important because previous research has shown that enriching our sense of smell by exposing people to pleasant scents can improve memory in older adults by a remarkable 226%.
According to Leon, scents might work by reducing inflammation, which is key for maintaining brain health. This new discovery suggests that olfactory (smell-based) therapies could help delay the onset of certain diseases.
The study involved tracking down information on 139 health conditions tied to both smell loss and inflammation, revealing that these two factors often share similar pathways in the body.
Since smell loss can show up early in diseases like Alzheimer’s, it could give people a chance to start treatments or lifestyle changes sooner.
The research team is now looking into how scent therapies, which involve using pleasant smells to stimulate the sense of smell, could reduce inflammation and help with symptoms of various diseases.
In fact, Leon and Woo are working on a device that could deliver scents in a therapeutic way, offering a non-invasive, safe option to improve health.
Leon notes that while it was a challenge to gather and connect so many studies, the effort is worthwhile. Recognizing the sense of smell as important for health adds a new dimension to how we think about overall wellness.
As scientists learn more about the role of senses in disease prevention and management, olfactory therapies could become an exciting way to support physical and mental health.
This study is just the beginning, and future research will explore whether smell-based treatments can help with other medical conditions. With ongoing exploration, scent therapy could one day become a new tool for maintaining health and preventing disease.
