Problems with Smell
Frequently Asked Questions
19. What research is being done on smell disorders?
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders supports basic and clinical studies on smell disorders. Scientists are working to understand more about the sense of smell so that new treatments can be developed to help restore the sense of smell to those who have lost it.
Scientists are finding out more about how our sense of smell works and how we detect the many different compounds that form odors. These findings are helping scientists study the sense of smell as a model for other sensory systems in the body.
Scientists have also found that the loss of smell affects the choices an older person makes about eating certain foods. They are looking at how and why this takes place in order to develop more effective ways to help older people -- especially those with chronic illnesses -- cope better with problems with smell.
