A diminished sense of smell, called anosmia, has emerged as one of the telltale symptoms of COVID-19. It is the first symptom for some patients, and sometimes the only one. Often accompanied by an inability to taste, anosmia occurs abruptly and dramatically in these patients, almost as if a switch had been flipped.

Most regain their senses of smell and taste after they recover, usually within weeks. But in a minority of patients, the loss persists, and doctors cannot say when or if the senses will return.

Scientists know little about how the virus causes persistent anosmia or how to cure it. But cases are piling up as the coronavirus sweeps across the world, and some experts fear that the pandemic may leave huge numbers of people with a permanent loss of smell and taste.

Smell is intimately tied to both taste and appetite, and anosmia often robs people of the pleasure of eating. But the sudden absence also may have a profound impact on mood and quality of life. Studies have linked anosmia to social isolation and anhedonia, an inability to feel pleasure, as well as a strange sense of detachment.

British scientists studied the experiences of 9,000 COVID-19 patients who joined a Facebook support group. Many members said they had not only lost pleasure in eating, but also in socializing. The loss had weakened their bonds with other people, leaving them feeling isolated, even detached from reality.

“From a public health perspective, this is really important,” said Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, an associate professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. “If you think worldwide about the number of people with COVID, even if only 10% have a more prolonged smell loss, we’re talking about potentially millions of people.”

The most immediate effects may be nutritional. People with anosmia may continue to perceive basic tastes, but smell adds complexity to the perception of flavor via hundreds of odor receptors signaling the brain.

Many people who can’t smell will lose their appetites, putting them at risk of nutritional deficits and unintended weight loss.

Smells also serve as a primal alarm system alerting humans to dangers in our environment, like gas leaks. A diminished sense of smell in old age is one reason older individuals are more prone to accidents, like fires caused by leaving burning food on the stove.

A diminished sense of smell, called anosmia, has emerged as one of the telltale symptoms of COVID-19. It is the first symptom for some patients, and sometimes the only one.

A diminished sense of smell, called anosmia, has emerged as one of the telltale symptoms of COVID-19. It is the first symptom for some patients, and sometimes the only one. Often accompanied by an inability to taste, anosmia occurs abruptly and dramatically in these patients, almost as if a switch had been flipped. Most regain their senses of smell and taste after they recover, usually within weeks. But in a minority of patients, the loss persists, and doctors cannot say when or if the senses will return. Scientists know little about how the virus causes persistent anosmia or how to cure it. But cases are piling up as the coronavirus sweeps across the world, and some experts fear that the pandemic may leave huge numbers of people with a permanent loss of smell and taste. Smell is intimately tied to both taste and appetite, and anosmia often robs people of the pleasure of eating. But the sudden absence also may have a profound impact on mood and quality of life. Studies have linked anosmia to social isolation and anhedonia, an inability to feel pleasure, as well as a strange sense of detachment. British scientists studied the experiences of 9,000 COVID-19 patients who joined a Facebook support group. Many members said they had not only lost pleasure in eating, but also in socializing. The loss had weakened their bonds with other people, leaving them feeling isolated, even detached from reality. “From a public health perspective, this is really important,” said Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, an associate professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. “If you think worldwide about the number of people with COVID, even if only 10% have a more prolonged smell loss, we’re talking about potentially millions of people.” The most immediate effects may be nutritional. People with anosmia may continue to perceive basic tastes, but smell adds complexity to the perception of flavor via hundreds of odor receptors signaling the brain. Many people who can’t smell will lose their appetites, putting them at risk of nutritional deficits and unintended weight loss. Smells also serve as a primal alarm system alerting humans to dangers in our environment, like gas leaks. A diminished sense of smell in old age is one reason older individuals are more prone to accidents, like fires caused by leaving burning food on the stove.

Some COVID-19 survivors haunted by loss of smell and taste

One of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus is loss of the sense of smell and taste.&nbsp;A new research has now revealed the reason behind this loss of smell and taste.

Experts believe that the symptom of loss of smell is one of the most distinct symptom of the novel coronavirus, rather than cough, cold or fever.

Coronavirus, experts believe, latch onto cells via an enzyme known as ACE2 as an entry point to the human body. This makes&nbsp;cells containing this enzyme the most vulnerable.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-headache-vomiting-and-more-added-to-list-of-symptoms-in-india-311077">Also read|&nbsp;COVID 19: Headache, vomiting and more added to list of symptoms in India</a>

Till now it was believed that the virus directly attacked the sensory neurons. However, a new study by the Harvard University has revealed that the enzyme ACE2 is instead found in cells providing “metabolic and structural support” to those olfactory sensory neurons and to some stem and blood vessel cells.

“Our findings indicate that the novel coronavirus changes the sense of smell in patients not by directly infecting neurons but by affecting the function of supporting cells,” said senior study author Sandeep Robert Datta, associate professor of neurobiology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard, in a statement.

The study was published in a journal titled Science Advances.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-has-now-begun-to-show-newer-symptoms-and-syndromes-298424">Also read|&nbsp;COVID-19 has now begun to show newer symptoms and syndromes</a>

The study reveals that the olfactory sensory neurons do not have the genetic mechanism to encode the ACE2 receptor protein. This means that the virus cannot grab onto something and permanently damage it.

In simpler words, when a COVID-19 patient loses sense of smell and taste, the senses will come back once the patient recovers. The loss of smell and taste will not be permanent.

It means that a coronavirus infection most likely will not permanently damage sense of smell, Datta said.

“I think it’s good news, because once the infection clears, olfactory neurons don’t appear to need to be replaced or rebuilt from scratch,” Datta said.

“Anosmia seems like a curious phenomenon, but it can be devastating for the small fraction of people in whom it’s persistent. It can have serious psychological consequences and could be a major public health problem if we have a growing population with permanent loss of smell.”

However, Datta has cautioned that this study has only been published in a peer-reviewed journal as of now and they need more clarity on the data. “We need more data and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms to confirm this conclusion,” he said.

One of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus is loss of the sense of smell and taste. A new research has now revealed the reason behind this loss of smell and taste.

One of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus is loss of the sense of smell and taste. A new research has now revealed the reason behind this loss of smell and taste. Experts believe that the symptom of loss of smell is one of the most distinct symptom of the novel coronavirus, rather than cough, cold or fever. Coronavirus, experts believe, latch onto cells via an enzyme known as ACE2 as an entry point to the human body. This makes cells containing this enzyme the most vulnerable. Also read| COVID 19: Headache, vomiting and more added to list of symptoms in India Till now it was believed that the virus directly attacked the sensory neurons. However, a new study by the Harvard University has revealed that the enzyme ACE2 is instead found in cells providing “metabolic and structural support” to those olfactory sensory neurons and to some stem and blood vessel cells. “Our findings indicate that the novel coronavirus changes the sense of smell in patients not by directly infecting neurons but by affecting the function of supporting cells,” said senior study author Sandeep Robert Datta, associate professor of neurobiology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard, in a statement. The study was published in a journal titled Science Advances. Also read| COVID-19 has now begun to show newer symptoms and syndromes The study reveals that the olfactory sensory neurons do not have the genetic mechanism to encode the ACE2 receptor protein. This means that the virus cannot grab onto something and permanently damage it. In simpler words, when a COVID-19 patient loses sense of smell and taste, the senses will come back once the patient recovers. The loss of smell and taste will not be permanent. It means that a coronavirus infection most likely will not permanently damage sense of smell, Datta said. “I think it’s good news, because once the infection clears, olfactory neurons don’t appear to need to be replaced or rebuilt from scratch,” Datta said. “Anosmia seems like a curious phenomenon, but it can be devastating for the small fraction of people in whom it’s persistent. It can have serious psychological consequences and could be a major public health problem if we have a growing population with permanent loss of smell.” However, Datta has cautioned that this study has only been published in a peer-reviewed journal as of now and they need more clarity on the data. “We need more data and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms to confirm this conclusion,” he said.

Loss of smell and taste not permanent in COVID-19: Harvard study

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Some COVID-19 survivors haunted by loss of smell and taste

Loss of smell and taste not permanent in COVID-19: Harvard study