Poor sense of smell not a big loss for most people

Most people with a reduced sense of smell - including those who have lost their ability to smell anything at all - adjust and learn to cope. German researchers found that these people usually appear to place less importance on the sense of smell in their daily lives than those with a normal sense of smell.

Problems with the sense of smell are common. Between 13 to 18 percent of people have a reduced sense of smell and 4 to 6 percent have total loss of sense of smell. Viral infections, head injury, nose and sinus diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions are the main causes of reduced or lost sense of smell, and most cases are associated with aging. Because the disorder often develops gradually, many people may not seek medical help and simply learn to adjust to the impairment.

To compare the importance of sense of smell in daily life between patients with disorders of smell and healthy individuals, researchers followed 470 people, half who either lacked or had a reduced sense of smell and half without the impairment. The participants underwent testing of their sense of smell, or olfactory function, and completed a questionnaire about the importance of the sense of smell. The questionnaire included items to reflect emotions, memories and evaluations triggered by the sense of smell.

Those with reduced or no olfactory function rated the importance of the sense in daily life lower than those who had no dysfunction. They reported fewer olfactory-triggered emotions and memories and also reported to rely less on this sense in decision making. This behaviour might be an example of regaining psychological health despite acquired and long-lasting impairments.

However, approximately 17 percent to 30 percent of patients with olfactory disorders report a decreased quality of life, including symptoms of depression. In addition, those with poor olfactory function sometimes demonstrate a low interest in eating and a lack of appetite. The inability to detect harmful odors may also increase their risk of not recognizing hazardous events, such as a gas leak.