International experts have confirmed that the loss of the sense of smell has become an important sign that can reveal a range of diseases, and it may even be an early indicator of serious neurological and physical illnesses.
Estimates indicate that smell disorders affect about five percent of the population, with higher rates among adults over sixty and among men. However, experts assert that the medical community has neglected these disorders despite their association with more than 130 diseases, highlighting that they are more common than severe hearing loss and blindness.
Chronic sinusitis is the most common cause of loss of smell and may result from airway obstruction due to asthma, allergies, or cystic fibrosis.
The researchers explained that a loss of smell may be an early sign of serious illnesses such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and heart diseases.
The study confirmed that loss of smell may be one of the earliest signs of dementia, as the accumulation of harmful proteins appears in the part of the brain responsible for smell.
Other studies have shown that reduced smell may manifest five years before movement difficulties related to Parkinson’s disease appear in 90 percent of patients.
The experts added that loss of smell is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart failure in healthy adults, and it may also contribute to household accidents and food-related illnesses due to the inability to detect gas, fire, smoke, or spoiled food.
The scientific review published in the journal “Clinical Otolaryngology” indicated that individuals suffering from loss of smell often experience eating disorders, social isolation, anxiety, and depression, and they tend to follow a less diverse diet rich in fats and sugars.
In light of this evidence, experts have called for the inclusion of smell testing in medical practices, training specialists on it, and developing health and educational policies regarding the sense of smell and implementing them in the community.
This study was conducted by experts at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, the Monell Center for Chemical Senses in the United States, the “Smell Test” charity, and the Department of Computer Science at University College London.
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