Olfactory training in COVID-19 associated loss of smell

The SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) shows a noticeable involvement of the olfactory system with impaired sense of smell in many patients, often persisting even after recovery from COVID-19. As the sense of smell has an important role within social communication and quality of life, olfactory dysfunction is a serious problem poorly studied with few therapeutic options. Studies on persistent loss of smell due to traumatic brain injury or due to other viral infections have shown that a structured olfactory training could represent one possible therapeutic option. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a structured olfactory training in COVID-19 associated persistent olfactory dysfunction.

Loss of the sense of smell is among the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Unfortunately, many affected individuals continue to experience reduced or completely lost olfactory function months or even years after their infection. This condition can significantly impact quality of life, not only by diminishing taste and enjoyment of food but also by causing emotional strain and depressive moods. To provide affected individuals with a new perspective, a research team from the Medical University of Innsbruck, led by Dr. Beatrice Heim, PhD, and Prof. Dr. Klaus Seppi, conducted a clinical trial to investigate whether olfactory training can help patients with persistent smell loss following COVID-19. To find out if smell training can help people regain their sense of smell a research team from the Medical University of Innsbruck, led by Dr. Beatrice Heim, PhD, and Prof. Dr. Klaus Seppi, carried out a scientific study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one group did special smell training every day, while the other group did not receive any specific treatment. The smell training involved sniffing four specific scents twice a day for several minutes over a period of twelve weeks. The results of the study demonstrated that participants who completed the smell training significantly improved their sense of smell-considerably more than individuals who received no training. More than half (58%) of the trained individuals achieved clinically relevant improvements in their olfactory function, compared to only 4% in the control group. What was especially encouraging was that many participants said they felt better overall, with noticeable improvements in their well-being and everyday physical abilities. This study thus provides the first evidence that a simple and safe smell training program is effective in treating persistent smell disorders following COVID-19. These findings offer affected individuals a genuine opportunity for improvement and simultaneously open new avenues for the treatment of post-infectious olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19.