Following injury or damage, insulin plays a key role in the maturation and regeneration of immature olfactory sensory neurons.
Regions of the olfactory system in mice with higher amyloid beta expression exhibited lower activation of olfactory sensory neurons and decreased odor detection.
Trained scent detection dogs are able to detect organic compounds associated with COVID-19 in patients. Researchers report the dogs are better at detecting coronavirus infection than standard tests.
Study finds olfaction plays a significant role in the motivation to exercise. Mice who were "high runners" developed genetic differences in their olfactory systems that caused them to perceive smells differently than more sedentary mice.
Women who experience unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (uRPL) process olfactory signals related to male body odor differently to other women. Those who experience uRPL are better able to identify the smell of their spouse.
Coronavirus can cause several significant neurological disorders, and the pandemic has been linked to a rise in people reporting mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Researchers examine how COVID-19 affects brain and mental health and provides some techniques which can help to improve well-being during the pandemic.
Analyzing nasal discharge could be a new tool in diagnosing and monitoring the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found certain Alzheimer's related proteins can be detected in nasal discharge.
Findings suggest humans have a stereo sense of smell that subconsciously guides navigation.
A simple smell test could help doctors to identify which patients in a vegetative state will recover. 100% of patients in a vegetative state who reacted to the sniff test went on to regain consciousness. 91% of those were still alive three years post-injury.
Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus affects the brain, in addition to the lungs. Researchers are examining the threat COVID-19 posses to long term brain health. They speculate maternal inflammation could lead to an increased risk of autism-like behaviors and neurodevelopment deficits in children born to mothers diagnosed with coronavirus. Other studies are exploring how the virus may spread in the nervous system via synaptic transmission.
A shot of the reproductive hormone kisspeptin enhances brain activity in response to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men. The findings reveal a previously undescribed attraction pathway in humans activated by the hormone and identify kisspeptin signaling as a potential therapeutic pathway for psychosexual and reproductive disorders.
Sleep deprivation causes the olfactory system to go into overdrive, sharpening food odors, and breaking down communication within other brain areas that receive food signals.
