![]() Therefore, the system has the capacity to repair itself after injury, but this isn’t always possible or complete. Remarkably, these nerve cells normally die and are replaced throughout our lifetime. The sense of smell (olfaction) is dependent on millions of specialized nerve cells that are located in a deep protected recess high in the nasal cavity. The detrimental effect of smell loss on flavor of food could significantly impact the elderly population, where diet and nutrition are already often a concern. If smell loss from aging alone is considered, one out of eight people between 53 and 91 will be affected over a five-year period. Smell disorders affect 19% of the population over the age of 20 and 25% of the population over 53. With so much of our social activity involving congregating at restaurants, bars, and cafes, it is understandable how someone losing the sense of smell can develop a sense of alienation. The flavor of a meal depends heavily on the ability to smell, and without it, eating is just a bland means to dispel hunger. Memories of a perfume worn by your spouse or the bread being baked at your grandmother’s house when you were a child last for decades, and are often intricately tied in with strong emotions. On a daily basis, smell rounds out our experiences and is often an integral part of our memory of events from years gone by. Although humans can survive without smell, research has shown that losing the sense of smell negatively impacts quality of life, even driving some people toward clinical depression. Just as other animals depend on the sense of smell as an alarm system for danger, we also depend on smell to warn us of the hazards of smoke from a fire, natural gas leaks in the home, and spoiled food. In other animals, the sense of smell is absolutely crucial for survival, reproduction, and rearing of young. But anyone who has developed complete nasal obstruction from an infection or severe allergies has experienced what it’s like to be without one of our most basic senses: our sense of smell. We spend our days interacting with the world around us through our senses of sight, sound, and touch.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |