How smell indicates depression

A recent study indicates that a diminished sense of smell, particularly the feeling of self-perceived weakness, is strongly and consistently linked to an increased likelihood of depression. Individuals who perceive their sense of smell as weak are more susceptible to depression by a factor ranging from 1.19 to 2.05 times. The strongest association is observed between self-reported olfactory loss and elevated risk factors. Conversely, objective smell impairment, measured using medical devices, shows a less clear connection to depression, although the link remains significant among older adults over 65 and those with complete anosmia (loss of smell). The findings emphasize that losing the sense of smell, especially the feeling of weakness in it, may serve as a warning sign for depression. However, the researchers believe that current evidence is still insufficient to recommend routine testing or to use smell impairment as a diagnostic marker.

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