In August, former First Lady Michelle Obama revealed on her podcast that “I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression.” She’s not the only one. Pandemic-related
depression is sweeping across the nation and around the world. A survey in
JAMA Network Open found that the rate of depression symptoms in the U.S. increased more than 3-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, jumping from 8.5% before the pandemic to nearly 28%.
But depression has also been linked to having COVID-19. A 2020 study in the
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease shows that one of the consequences of COVID-19 includes depression, in addition to
anxiety,
attention problems,
obsessive compulsive disorder,
memory loss, and more. Another 2020 study appearing in the journal
Laryngoscope found that in people with COVID, experiencing a loss of smell and taste was associated with depressed mood and anxiety.
New
research shows that up to 80% of people with COVID report experiencing anosmia, or the loss of smell. Surprisingly, depression and anxiety were more likely to be found in people with olfactory dysfunction than in those with other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fever, or cough.
THE SCIENCE OF SMELL AND MOOD
A wealth of scientific research has shown that our sense of smell and our moods are intertwined. For example:
- When scientists chemically blunted the sense of smell in mice for a 2018 study, it induced depressive behavior in the rodents.
- In another study on elderly Koreans, an impaired olfactory function was associated with a significantly higher degree of depression in addition to lower cognitive performance and decreased quality of life.
- A 2016 review of the existing research on anosmia and depression showed that the relationship appears to be a 2-way street. People with depression are more likely to have problems with a sense of smell than healthy controls, and people with anosmia are more likely to have symptoms of depression. And the greater the loss of smell the more severe the depressive symptoms.
SENSE OF SMELL AND EMOTIONS IN THE BRAIN
The area of your brain involved with smell (olfactory cortex) is located near your limbic system (the brain’s emotional centers), including the hippocampus, which is involved with mood and memory. These areas tend to deteriorate and die together.
Not only is the loss of smell associated with depression, but it is also linked to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Having trouble smelling peanut butter, lemon, strawberries, or natural gas is associated with a higher incidence of significant memory problems, according to
research. Scoring poorly on a
smell test is considered a warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
If you experience a diminishing sense of smell or the sudden loss of your ability to identify scents, it may be a sign of trouble. Take note of any other health symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue) that may be related to COVID-19, and take stock of your emotional well-being and memory to see if you notice any changes. Be sure to make an appointment with a healthcare professional.
SMELL THE ROSES
To improve your sense of smell, give your sniffer a daily workout. There is evidence that repeated exposure to certain odors can improve the ability to smell. In a
study from Aristotle University in Greece, 111 patients with anosmia repeatedly trained their sense of smell twice a day using 4 odors (phenyl ethyl alcohol, eucalyptol, citronellal, eugenol). After 8 weeks, compared to a control group, participants noticed significant improvement that lasted up to a year. If you have this issue, put your nose to work.
Certain scents have also been found to improve mood and ease depression. Essential oils that support healthy moods include lavender, chamomile, rose oil, lemon, and jasmine.
Depression, memory loss, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.
At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.
