Our Sense of Smell

 SENSE OF SMELL 

Anosmia is the partial or full loss of smell. Anosmia can be a temporary or permanent condition. After reading an article in June in the NYT, I was compelled to check out our sense of smell and if it does indeed deteriorate with age, as so many of our senses do. 

Experts say a loss of smell can negatively impact mental health. But training your nose can fight off the decline. Taste and smell are the first senses to decline with age.

The aroma of just-baked cookies, roses in full bloom, and other every day scents make our lives richer in ways we often take for granted. Yet, when the sense of smell is lost or compromised, it is not just enjoyment of life that is affected but also health and safety. Our sense of smell helps whet the appetite and also serves as a warning system to avert dangers and toxins.

For many people, troubles with smell are among the first signs of Alzheimer’s.

“Two of the great joys in people’s lives are the sensations of smell and taste,” says R. Peter Manes, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Yale Medicine. “When these senses are altered or absent, people lose that pleasure and can feel isolated from those around them who are not afflicted.”

“Our brains need a lot of olfactory stimulation in order to maintain their health,” said Michael Leon, a professor emeritus of neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine.  Fortunately, a diminished sense of smell may be reversible, perhaps by something as simple as spending some time with your spice rack.  And so I have a new project. 

Smell training!  Every day I choose an herb or spice and take whiff.  I enjoy the whole process;  from choosing one of our 33 bottles, breathing it in, and trying to see what combinations of flavors and scents I recognize.  Especially those we don’t use very often (fenugreek or garam masala), for example.  Other scents suggested are peanut butter and peppermint and fresh herbs vs dried.  Try coffee, shampoo and essential oils.

OR … you can buy a kit from Amazon! 

Just $19.99

Olfactory retraining involves smelling a variety of strong scents every day, such as citrus, cloves, or eucalyptus. You can use items you have around the house or buy a smell retraining kit online. Try smelling each odor for 15 seconds with a deep inhale through your nose. 

While smelling, think about what the scent smells like and try to recall times when you've smelled it before. You can also try associating pleasant smells with pleasant feelings. Some recommend practicing this therapy for at least four weeks, or even a few months.

Exercise: Research suggests that exercise can strengthen your sense of smell. You can try setting aside at least 30 minutes a day for physical activity, such as a brisk walk.

Eat well: Try eating foods rich in zinc and B12.

Quit smoking: Being healthier can help you smell and taste better.

Treat nasal congestion: If your sense of smell is blocked by allergies or sinuses, you can try using a nasal decongestant to shrink blood vessels in your nasal passages. (As I have aged, I take a Zyrtec twice a day to help with runny nose).

I haven’t noticed any change yet, but I do enjoy stopping to smell the rose bush on the way to my car.