What Your Sense of Smell Can Tell You About Your Health
Think about the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, or cookies baking in the oven. Our sense of smell is something most of us take for granted — until it starts to fade. But new research suggests that paying attention to how well we can smell may be one of the most important things we can do for our health as we age.
What the nose knows
Scientists are finding more and more connections between our sense of smell and our overall health. A study from the University of California, Irvine found that loss of smell is connected to 139 different medical conditions. 139! Many of those conditions involve inflammation in the body. Inflammation is what happens when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive. It’s linked to everything from heart disease to depression to Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Michael Leon, who led the UC Irvine study, made an eye-opening discovery: “We had previously found that olfactory enrichment can improve the memory of older adults by 226 percent. We now know that pleasant scents can decrease inflammation, potentially pointing to the mechanism by which such scents can improve brain health.” In other words, smelling pleasant things may actually be good for your brain.
An important warning sign
One of the biggest takeaways from this growing body of research is that losing your sense of smell often happens before you notice other signs of illness. For diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, a change in how well you can smell may show up years before any memory or movement problems begin.
Researchers in Germany published a study in the journal Nature Communications that helps explain why this happens with Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the brain’s own immune cells— called microglia—may actually destroy the nerve connections that allow us to smell. This happens early in the disease, before a person has any memory trouble.
The hopeful part of this research is what it could mean for treatment. The lead researcher, Professor Joachim Herms, believes these findings could open the door to catching Alzheimer’s much earlier. “Our findings could pave the way for the early identification of patients at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, enabling them to undergo comprehensive testing to confirm the diagnosis before cognitive problems arise,” he said. Finding the disease sooner means treatment can start sooner, and that can make a real difference.
What this means for you
So what should you do with all of this? Here are a few practical takeaways:
Pay attention to changes in your sense of smell. If you or someone you love has noticed that food doesn’t smell as strong as it used to, or that familiar scents have faded, it’s worth mentioning to a doctor. It may be nothing, but it could also be an early clue worth investigating.
Don’t dismiss smell loss as “just part of aging.” While it’s true that our sense of smell naturally weakens a little as we get older, a significant change is worth taking seriously. Doctors have simple smell tests that can be done right in the office.
Enjoy pleasant scents. The UC Irvine research suggests that surrounding yourself with pleasant smells, like flowers, essential oils, or good food, may have real benefits for brain health. It’s one of the easiest wellness habits imaginable.
Talk to your doctor about smell testing. As research in this area grows, smell tests may become a routine part of health checkups for older adults, much like blood pressure or cholesterol screening.
Our sense of smell is far more than a way to enjoy a good meal or detect something burning on the stove. It is part of our body’s early warning systems. So brew that coffee, bake those cookies! Celebrate your sense of smell as an important part of healthy aging.
The information in this article is not intended to replace the advice of your health care provider. If you are experiencing changes in your sense of smell, report that to your doctor.
Source: IlluminAge
