Analyzing Anosmia Amid An Already Aggravating Age
Did you know that smell is the only sensory system that doesn’t have a mediating mechanism to interpret input to the brain? Our sense of smell is processed by the same neurons that extend into the brain! Isn’t that crazy?
“Why are you talking about your sense of smell?” you may be asking yourself. Well, this all stemmed from a discussion on COVID complications with my wife (a savory and pastry chef). I had just read the brief of a study that says anxiety and depression rates increase among people with COVID-related loss of the sense of smell. We had a lengthy talk about those living without smell and having altered taste perception after contracting the virus. We honestly couldn’t imagine it.
We get so much happiness from food in our family that the idea of not being able to taste or smell the delicious ingredients is unfathomable. Our trips to the local farmer’s market would never be the same without the scents of fresh-cut flowers on the wind or the bright flavors of seasonal strawberries. It would be a dull and disappointing activity for us.
Anosmia is the temporary or permanent loss of the sense of smell. It basically disables your sense of smell (orthonasal olfaction). When you have no sense of smell, your ability to taste is usually altered as well because you lose “retronasal olfactory function,” or being able to smell the stuff that’s in your mouth through your nasal passage.
After researching anosmia, I have definitely taken my sense of smell for granted in my 35 years on this planet. I didn’t realize that over 13 million people suffer from anosmia, with more-than-usual cases appearing daily from COVID. According to this meta-analysis of 18 different studies, 47% of COVID cases include some kind of anosmia.
I decided to share my research on anosmia because I’m concerned about reports that 15% of young adults will skip getting the COVID vaccine, a group of people who are already more likely than other generations to be clinically depressed or deal with anxiety disorders.
Depression and anxiety are topics that are very close to me. I’ve been managing both conditions myself for the last few years after severely mismanaging them for over a decade. My experience has taught me just how important it is to manage the mind and understand what can impact mood, emotion, and motivation. The link between D&A and anosmia stirred my curiosity and drove me to ask a question: What happens to people mentally when we lose our sense of smell for a long time?
NOTE: I know I’m over-zealous with COVID precautions, having spent nearly the last 14 months in self-imposed quarantine protocols. My aim is not to be a COVID fearmonger but to highlight how anosmia impacts happiness and mental health and bring attention to the risk of developing anosmia from COVID. I’m also not a doctor, so consult yours or another qualified resource if you have specific questions about your own health.
Many studies discuss anosmia as it relates to mental health. After reading a good number of them, it’s apparent that social activities can contribute to depression and anxiety. In general, people are apathetic to anosmiacs. Most people see it as a short-term affliction, akin to the anosmia you get when your nose is plugged up from a cold (Look up rhinitis). But long-term anosmia is different because, as is the case in 10% of post-COVID anosmia cases, it appears permanent.
Let’s bring it back to food for a second as I present a hypothetical. Imagine being out with your friends at the local eatery. You’re all sitting around, ogling the menu and discussing the fare, as usual. You look over at your best friend, who is staring off at the wall, completely disinterested. You know they have post-COVID anosmia. You want to be a good friend and check in, so you ask, “Does anything sound good to you?”
“No, not a damn thing…”
In the majority of cultures, food is an integral part of social activities. So imagine being unable to participate in the “You gotta try this!” or the “Doesn’t this smell amazing?”. It would be depressing. For many anosmiacs, food no longer brings pleasure. It becomes a chore, like wiping your ass. You just gotta do it; otherwise, things get messy. I’ve tried to imagine the mental toll of not wanting my favorite foods anymore because they taste like cardboard or burning metal.
It’s common for those with anosmia to fall victim to depression and anxiety, isolating themselves to avoid social gatherings where food is the predominant activity. With COVID, isolation was mandatory in many cases for at least the 14-day quarantine window. Isolation has been shown to have a dramatic negative effect on those with anxiety and depression, as studies have shown that isolation affects certain oxytocin-related processes in the brain.
Oxytocin is a very important hormone. You know, “The Love Hormone?” Oxytocin is widely understood as a female reproductive hormone, released en-mass during labor and breastfeeding. However, that is not its sole function. Oxytocin is also the hormone associated with maternal/paternal bonding and social relationship building. And, maybe more important for many young adults, it’s the hormone that drives us to connect with our partners during intimacy. Being consistently low on oxytocin in the brain can be seen outwardly as disinterest, indifference, and self-isolation. These feelings fuel more anxiety and/or depression and lead to self-harm or suicide because things like sex and friendships are no longer enjoyable.
Scents are often the sensory trigger for other parts of our brains, too. For example, the amygdala’s stress response (fight or flight) or its ability to flag certain events to create a “scent memory” is triggered by our ability to detect smells. What would I feel if I were out on a date and not able to smell the familiar fragrance of my wife’s Dolce&Gabana “Light Blue,” a scent I’ve fallen in love with?
Anosmiacs contend with very real physical safety issues as well. They don’t perceive dangerous odors like mercaptan, the stuff that makes natural gas smell like rotten eggs. Anxiety caused by the imminent threat of danger is something humans have had as a defense mechanism since the dawn of time. Not having this reflex to warn us of danger is… well… dangerous. Also, consider this: Not having the scent stimulus to reassure an anxious brain that it’s “All Clear” can fuel additional anxiety, as well as create obsessive or compulsive behaviors and increased self-isolation to avoid harm.
I gotta come back up for air… I have a few final thoughts.
First, anosmia is WAY more complicated than not being able to taste your Starbuck Frappuccino. It’s a loss of one of only five primary senses. It’s a big deal. If you know someone dealing with anosmia, please understand that and develop empathy for their situation. I hope my research above sheds some light on what they could be going through biologically, let alone mentally.
Second, if you’re among the 15% of young adults who are opting out of a COVID vaccine, please make safe choices regarding COVID and your mental health, whatever that means for you. Knowing that 90% of COVID-related anosmia cases spontaneously return to normal after two or three weeks is comforting. However, there isn’t as much comfort for people with long-term anosmia because the cause of COVID-related anosmia is still being studied. And, seeing as how our scent receptors are tied nearly directly to the central nervous system, it gets a little complicated (certainly beyond my pay grade). Please, just be safe for your own sake.
Third, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but mental health disorders affect people on the daily. For anyone, regardless of COVID or anything else: If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, or any kind of mental health issue, be kind to yourself and know that it’s more common than you think, especially right now. If you’re struggling to find resources in your area, check out The CDC’s Mental Health resource for more information.
Cheers, Brandon