Anosmia-A Clinical Review.

Boesveldt S; Postma EM; Boak D; Welge-Luessen A; Schöpf V; Mainland JD; Martens J; Ngai J; Duffy VB

doi:10.1093/chemse/bjx025

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Journal article

Anosmia-A Clinical Review.

Boesveldt S Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Postma EM Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Boak D Fifth Sense, Sanderum House, 38 Oakley Road, Chino OX39 4TW, UK.
Welge-Luessen A Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
Schöpf V Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Mainland JD Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Martens J Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Ngai J Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.
Duffy VB Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, 358 Mansfield Road, Box U-101 Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA.

2017-05-23

Published in:

Chemical senses. - 2017

English Anosmia and hyposmia, the inability or decreased ability to smell, is estimated to afflict 3-20% of the population. Risk of olfactory dysfunction increases with old age and may also result from chronic sinonasal diseases, severe head trauma, and upper respiratory infections, or neurodegenerative diseases. These disorders impair the ability to sense warning odors in foods and the environment, as well as hinder the quality of life related to social interactions, eating, and feelings of well-being. This article reports and extends on a clinical update commencing at the 2016 Association for Chemoreception Sciences annual meeting. Included were reports from: a patient perspective on losing the sense of smell with information on Fifth Sense, a nonprofit advocacy organization for patients with olfactory disorders; an otolaryngologist's review of clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management/treatment of anosmia; and researchers' review of recent advances in potential anosmia treatments from fundamental science, in animal, cellular, or genetic models. As limited evidence-based treatments exist for anosmia, dissemination of information on anosmia-related health risks is needed. This could include feasible and useful screening measures for olfactory dysfunction, appropriate clinical evaluation, and patient counseling to avoid harm as well as manage health and quality of life with anosmia.

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