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Olfaction and Health

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Olfaction: An Interdisciplinary Perspective from Philosophy to Life Sciences

Part of the book series: Human Perspectives in Health Sciences and Technology ((HPHST,volume 4))

Abstract

How the sense of smell is involved in human health has been the subject of increasing inquiry over the past several decades. The two main avenues of investigation are: (1) “aromatherapy” – how the inhalation of various odors can produce positive effects on psychological and physiological wellness; (2) how abnormal decreases in olfactory sensitivity are linked to various disease states and an increased risk of premature mortality. In this chapter, I evaluate pertinent aspects of both of these topics. First, with regard to aromatherapy, popular accounts for underlying mechanisms are debunked and scientific explanations provided; I then present a focused review of the empirical literature on scent and pain management and discuss why pain may be especially well suited to aromatherapeutic approaches. Second, the clinical significance of abnormal olfactory loss as a harbinger for premature mortality and as a prodromal maker for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and most recently Covid-19, is examined. Following from this, I suggest how simple do-at-home smell tests can be implemented and should become a standard part of basic healthcare screenings.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.atlasgroup-india.com/glito-jasmine-bliss-floor-cleaner-1-ltr.htm.

  2. 2.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/09/nyregion/whiff-of-maple-syrup-is-back-and-new-york-smells-a-rat.html; https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/nyregion/06sweet.html.

  3. 3.

    https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics.

  4. 4.

    https://www.sciencealert.com/the-us-death-rate-for-covid-19-is-50-times-higher-than-the-flu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Rachel S. Herz

  2. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA

    Rachel S. Herz

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Cognitive Sciences and Technology (ISTC), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy

    Nicola Di Stefano

  2. Department of Education Science, Roma Tre University, Via del Castro Pretorio, Roma, Italy

    Maria Teresa Russo

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Herz, R.S. (2022). Olfaction and Health. In: Di Stefano, N., Russo, M.T. (eds) Olfaction: An Interdisciplinary Perspective from Philosophy to Life Sciences. Human Perspectives in Health Sciences and Technology, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75205-7_11

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