http://www.senseofsmell.org/feature/smell101/lesson2/02.php
Total loss of the sense of smell, known as Anosmia, results from various causes and can have a profound effect on a person’s quality of life. Olfactory damage is a significant sensory loss that affects 1-2% of the American population. Approximately 200,000 people seek medical attention related to smell disorders each year in the United States (Doty, 2003). Occasionally damage to the sense of smell goes undetected, even though smell dysfunction can severely alter a person’s quality of life and even put them at risk for many dangers.
Studies show that the majority of the two million Americans that experience smell loss are age 65 or older, as the sense of smell tends to decrease with age. Dr. Susan Schiffman from Duke University reports, “gradual reduction, or loss, of taste and smell appears to be an unfortunate but normal part of aging” (http://.obssr.od.nih.gov/Publications/TASTE.HTM, 2005). Additionally, the elderly population is more susceptible to the types of infections that lead to olfactory damage.
Quality of life is dependent on the olfactory system, as smell, memories, and feelings are intertwined to form an inextricable link that Gabrielle Glaser eloquently describes in, The Nose, A Profile of Sex, Beauty, and Survival. The book cites research about the ability of fragrance to elevate mood, and discusses the sense of smell’s impact on well-being and overall happiness. While the scientific community increasingly embraces the positive role of pleasant aromas on our well-being, Glaser believes that in the general population the sense of smell is the most underappreciated of all the senses. It is only when people actually experience smell loss that they come to appreciate the many ways it enhances their lives and perceptions of the world around them. One woman who lost her ability to smell in her mid-forties describes the devastation of her loss like living every day “in a sealed bubble”. She also now suffers from depression that is attributed to her anosomia (Glaser, 135).
Patients suffering from smell impairment, whether it is partial or total loss, ordinarily report problems associated with safety, eating, and feelings of insecurity since they cannot detect their own body odors (Hummel, 2003). The sense of smell serves to determine the flavor of foods, beverages, and is a critical detector of hazards such as natural leaking gas, smoke, pollutants, and spoiled foods. Changes in the sense of smell can also weaken a person’s immune system and contribute to digestive disorders.
http://www.senseofsmell.org/feature/smell101/lesson2/02.php
