Depression: connection to a feature of our nose

It is true that the problems ofodor cause depression? Perfect proof of the thesis is needed, but it seems that research from the Technical University of Dresden in Germany has found good reasons to say so. In the past, older adults with loss of smell were reported to develop symptoms of depression in the future.

Since depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders,
multifaceted approach to treatment would be beneficial. At the same time, people suffering from olfactory dysfunction often report a deterioration in mood, and numerous studies have shown a link between smell and depression. However, the nature of this compound has yet to be explored. Our study is the first to show that smell can be directly related to mood. In other words, people with improvements in smell showed a decrease in the severity of depression. This is a fascinating discovery that allows us to expand our perspective on the link between smell and depression.

Agnieszka Sabiniewicz, who leads the investigation

Dresden scientists have conducted a test to measure the improvement in the sense of smell
related to the improvement of depression. The study was mainly conducted in patients suffering from:
dysosmia, a problem with the sense of smell. The study was conducted on 171 people aged 14 to 87
have a reduced sense of smell. The results led 157 of the participants to use the
dysosmia, on the other hand 14 had a normal sense of smell. After 11 months, the to test retested each participant’s sense of smell, also assessing symptoms of depression.

The explanation could lie in the relationship driven by shared connections within the brain. The
information related to smell passes through many areas of the brain, useful for processing
emotions. However, the research conducted is not yet final and needs more
insights.