Losing your sense of smell can damage quality of life as severely as living with diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease or kidney failure, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). The study, published in the journal Clinical Otolaryngology, compiled data from dozens of earlier investigations to give a comprehensive picture of how smell and taste disorders affect everyday existence — and the findings are stark.
Scientists at UEA’s Norwich Medical School analysed quality-of-life scores from 455 patients with smell and taste loss and compared them with results for people suffering from chronic illnesses routinely considered life-altering. The two sets of scores were strikingly similar. “We found that smell and taste disorders consistently produce significant emotional, social and psychological suffering, often rivalling conditions routinely considered life-altering,” said lead researcher Professor Carl Philpott.
The hidden toll of losing smell and taste
The emotional and social consequences reported by patients were severe. According to the study, the majority of those affected suffered from depression, with one in five experiencing moderate, severe or extreme depression. Rates of social withdrawal were also high. Professor Philpott described patients reporting “a disturbing sense of emotional numbness” and heightened anxiety around personal safety — such as the inability to detect the smell of smoke or gas. The simple pleasure of smelling a morning coffee or tasting a home-cooked meal vanishes, and life can quickly become bleak.
Because smell accounts for most of what people perceive as taste, meals become a purely functional act rather than a source of enjoyment. “When this is lost, meals can feel bland, metallic or even repulsive,” Professor Philpott explained. Some patients lose weight due to a lack of appetite, while others gain weight after chasing stronger or sweeter flavours. This disruption to eating habits can have knock-on effects: nutritional intake suffers, people dine out less frequently, and poor diet has been linked to cognitive decline, particularly in older age groups. Some individuals also report financial strain from lost earnings and the cost of seeking alternative treatments.
The scale of the problem is significant. As many as one in five people are affected by a smell or taste disorder at some point. The Covid-19 pandemic brought the issue into the spotlight, with anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) becoming hallmark symptoms. While many patients recover within weeks or months, a substantial proportion experience prolonged dysfunction. Self-reported recovery rates can be high — around 95 per cent within six months — but psychophysical testing reveals higher rates of persistent deficits. Some research indicates that up to seven per cent of Covid patients may have a loss lasting longer than 12 months. Recovery varies greatly: some improve within weeks, others take months or years. Negative prognostic indicators include severe acute loss, being female, and older age. Even when individuals feel their smell has returned, tests can show lingering deficits, making persistent olfactory dysfunction a recognised feature of long Covid. Newer variants appear to affect fewer people, but estimates still suggest 10 to 25 per cent experience smell or taste changes during or after infection.
Beyond viral infections, the causes of these disorders are wide-ranging. They include nasal and sinus problems such as allergies, sinusitis and nasal polyps; head or facial trauma; certain medications; the natural loss of smell after age 60; neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; smoking; and dental problems. In the UK specifically, research from University College London estimates that persistent anosmia lasting more than 12 months affects approximately 1.0 per cent of the population — over 695,000 individuals — with a similar number affected by parosmia (distorted smell). Broader estimates suggest up to 20 per cent of the UK population may have some degree of smell loss.
A history of being overlooked
Despite these profound effects, smell and taste disorders have historically been sidelined by the medical profession. “The problem is that doctors often reassure patients that the problem is minor or temporary, even when symptoms persist for years,” Professor Philpott said. “Few specialist services exist, and access to treatment remains limited.” Studies indicate that healthcare professionals in the UK may have a poor understanding of these conditions, making it difficult for patients to obtain appropriate care.
Treatment options do exist, but availability is patchy. The primary proven therapy for post-viral anosmia is smell training — also called olfactory training — which involves regularly sniffing specific scents such as essential oils to retrain the olfactory nerves. Evidence suggests it can lead to clinically significant improvements in a notable percentage of patients. Depending on the underlying cause, medical interventions may include steroid nasal sprays or drops for sinusitis or nasal polyps, or surgery to correct nasal obstruction. Emerging research is exploring novel approaches such as Stellate Ganglion Block injections, which aim to reset the autonomic nervous system’s influence on olfactory nerves, with promising early results in small studies. Other areas under investigation include oral gabapentin, nasal theophylline irrigations, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Support networks are stepping in where healthcare has fallen short. Organisations such as AbScent and Fifth Sense (also known as SmellTaste) provide information, community and peer support for those affected. The UK also has a number of “Smell and Taste Action Groups” offering in-person support. But for many patients, the message remains clear: these disorders are not a minor inconvenience, they are a serious health problem that demands greater recognition and improved access to care.
