Loss of sense of smell linked to changes in breathing patterns, research suggests
Losing or not having your sense of smell may be linked to changes in breathing that could lead to depression, social isolation or other mental health problems, a new study suggests.
Not having — or losing — your sense of smell may be linked to changes in breathing that could lead to depression, social isolation or other mental and physical health problems, a new study suggests. It's more evidence of how important this often neglected olfactory sense is.
A new analysis of breathing data from 52 volunteers over a 24-hour period revealed that people with a normal sense of smell had little spikes, or “sniffs,” during each breath that were not seen in those with no sense of smell, according to the report published in Nature Communications on Tuesday.
People can be born with no sense of smell, a condition called anosmia, or they can acquire it, as has been the case with many who had a Covid infection.
The volunteers in the study without the ability to detect odors were all born with the condition.
Nearly 1 in 4 people have anosmia, according to National Institutes of Health estimates. Experts say that number is likely an undercount.
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