A new study published at Oxford Academy journal shows that people who have bad sense of smell have higher risks of becoming depressed later in life.
While it's not a direct cause, it clearly shows that our brains are bodies are way more surprising and complicated than we think.
Let's find out more.
Loss of smell can be worse than you think
A study by researchers at JH Medicine looked at over 2000 older people for 8 years and found a strong link between their poor sense of smell and the risk of getting late-life depression.
Even though the study does not prove causation, it shows that loss of smell may serve as a significant indicator of overall bad health and well-being.
Previous research has already connected a poor sense of smell to complicated neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
How it was discovered
The team of specialists analyzed lots of data from healthy older individuals aged 70-73 and found that those with poor or absent smell had a much higher risk of getting various depressive symptoms.
The specialists plan to further explore the relationship between this sense and symptoms of depression and investigate the potential for smell-based interventions to soften the risk of their late-life depression.
Overall, this study showcases how the sense of smell is important as an important early sign for various severe health issues, just like depression.
