New discovery about 'virtual smell'

The first study in the United States used nationally representative data to test the incidence and risk factors for odor perception, contributing to unlocking the mystery of "virtual smells".

The study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery was led by Kathleen Bainbridge, Ph.D., Ph.D., of the Epidemiology and Biology Program at the National Institute of Deaf and Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health. America.

Dr. Bainbridge and his team used data from 7,417 people over 40 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014.

They used questions to explore the correlation between virtual smells and participants' characteristics such as age, gender, education level, race / ethnicity, socio-economic status, health habits. certain and general health status. As a result, for every 1 in 15 Americans (about 6.5%) over the age of 40 experience "virtual smell" awareness .

The smell is a lot of smell when not available.(Photo: REUTERS).

According to Healthline, Phantosmia (phantom smell) - an olfactory hallucination is a condition in which the subject smells odor not in reality (using the word 'virtual smell').

Science Daily quoted Dr. Judith A. Cooper, director of NIDCD: "Problems with the sense of smell are often ignored despite their importance. They can have a big impact on appetite, favorite food. and the ability to smell dangerous such as fire, gas leaks and food spoilage '.

Donald Leopold, professor of clinical surgery at the University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington (USA) added that patients who feel "virtual smells" often have poor quality of life and sometimes cannot maintain weight. healthy.

About twice as many women than men experience "virtual smells", especially those under 60 years old. It can be explained by previous studies that women are more sensitive to smells, often calling smells better and are often negatively affected by odors than men, according to ABC News.

Research shows other risk factors that are associated with beginning to feel virtual smell including head injury, dry mouth, poor overall health and low socioeconomic status. Researchers hypothesize that because people with lower socioeconomic status are often exposed to environmental pollutants and toxins.

Meanwhile, poor health conditions relate to "virtual smell" directly or by the effect of drugs they take to treat such ill health.

The specific cause of olfactory hallucinations is still a mystery. Bainbridge and colleagues point out: "This condition may involve excessive olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity or may be a problem in the brain when communicating odor signals ."

The team said that from this study, other researchers could formulate the idea of ​​a starting point to trace the cause and ultimately find a way to prevent or treat the condition.