2023-06-28 11:11:02
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Research has shown that loss of smell may increase the risk of depressive symptoms. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]A new study suggests that loss of smell as you age can be a sign of poor health.
Neuroscience News reported on the 27th, citing a study recently published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, that loss of smell can serve as a powerful indicator of overall health and well-being.
“A weak sense of smell is an early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as a recurring indicator of risk of death,” said the researchers, who analyzed data collected from 2,125 healthy elderly people aged 70 to 73 years.
Real smells are processed in the brain’s olfactory bulb, which is thought to interact closely with the amygdala, hippocampus, and other brain structures that regulate and enable memory, decision-making, and emotional responses.
Of the study participants, 48% had a normal sense of smell, 28% had a reduced sense of smell, known as hyposmia, and 24% had severe sensory loss known as anosmia. At the beginning of the study, they did not have difficulty walking 0.25 miles, climbing 10 steps, or performing normal activities.
However, over time, those with a reduced sense of smell or severe sensory loss, also known as anosmia, were at an increased risk of developing severe depressive symptoms than those with a normal sense of smell.
They were also more likely to show moderate to high levels of depressive symptoms as their sense of smell worsened. The worse the sense of smell, the higher the depressive symptoms. Specifically, these results were independent of age, income, lifestyle, health factors, and antidepressant use.
“Loss of smell affects many aspects of health and behavior, such as the detection of spoiled food or noxious gases and the enjoyment of eating,” said the researchers. It could be a warning sign for it,” he said.
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