Has anyone ever seen any good tests for measuring olfactory sense? This would seem to be potentially important for tracking brain function, and I’m wondering if there are any good standardized tests that people may be able to access.
Olfaction: an emerging regulator of longevity and metabolism
Ageing is a malleable process influenced by the environment. Recent research reveals that neurons interact with peripheral organs to regulate metabolism and longevity by responding to olfactory cues through specific pathways, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and microRNAs. Here, we examine the significance of these findings.
Concluding remarks
Olfactory perception extends beyond mere sensory experience; it links vital physiological processes, such as lifespan regulation, metabolism, and immunity, across species. These discoveries in model organisms have revealed the potential for olfactory signals to modulate key aspects of neuronal and organismal biology. This offers exciting prospects for new non-invasive interventions through olfactory stimulation for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.
Background: Olfactory dysfunction is an increasingly recognised condition, associated with reduced quality of life and major health outcomes such as neurodegeneration and death. However, translational research in this field is limited by heterogeneity in methodological approach, including definitions of impairment, improvement and appropriate assessment techniques.
“Aside from picking up odours and smelling things, our [nose ] knows a few things about our health. It has been linked to good health, mental illness and even early death. Our olfactory senses are sharpened when our nose is working efficiently. It can detect more than a billion different smells.”
Now on rapamycin for 3+ years my whole sinuses seem more moist and thick, improved smelling and breathing. My nose itself is fleshier.
I noticed a similar improvement in a friend’s 14 year old dog. It’s nose was scabby… and dried out. After 4 months of rapamycin - the equivalent of 2.5 human years… the dog’s nose was moist… I mean really wet… scabs went away… it started sniffing and checking areas of the house and cooking in the kitchen… things it hadn’t cared about for years… now were of interest.
Like the old dog, my sense of smell and nose health seems significantly better.
Anyone else notice this?
As an aside… never had allergies due to seasons until I hit 50 years - BAM! Then flonaz was my go to in spring for cedar bloom and fall for ragweed. Past two years - no allergies - no need for flonaz… regenerated to my earlier no allergy state of being. it is great!
Usually, ent’s/neuroscientists check olfactory acuity using “Sniffin’ Sticks” . They seem to cover most of the ranges of smells as there is only a few categories of types of odors.
I personally completely lost my taste and smell (anosmia) for a long 3 years, after I got covid. It was such a unbearable situation to be in ,with no known future of my smell/taste returning. I tried every possible supplement, olfactory training, IV’s and repurposed drugs but nothing worked.
Long story short, it slowly recovered, probably due to my continuous high dose Ivermectin protocol prescribed courageously by my dr (who had his license threatened in 10 states due to prescribing IVM).
I now regained 90% of my smell and taste but many smells are way off than I remeber them. All perfumes, flatulence, etc… are completely different smells, which could be parosmia, and can mean that I am slowly recovering those smells.
Don’t take smell and taste for granted. It was torture.
Given that most things deteriorate with age if you can get a general improvement of cellular function olfaction should improve. I think this also links to having adequate magnesium levels. Once I noted to my wife that my farts smelt stronger and she said they had not changed which implied my sense of smell was more sensitive.
There was to me a surprising answer as to what one of the main fart gasses is (not a smelly one). Anyone wish to guess without using google?
