Chrissi Kelly lost her sense of smell 14 years ago after catching a virus in the Czech Republic. Despite visiting multiple doctors, she was told to learn to live with anosmia, the medical term for smell loss. For Kelly, the loss was catastrophic, significantly impacting her daily life.
Researchers believe that disturbances in the sense of smell are often linked to problems with brain health. Smell impairments, including hyposmia and anosmia, affect a significant portion of the population, with estimates suggesting up to 22 percent of people live with these conditions.
The conditions have been poorly understood and underdiagnosed, with many clinicians minimizing their impact. However, for those affected, the loss of smell can have a profound effect on their quality of life, making everyday tasks and experiences challenging.
