According to a new study conducted at the medical school at the University of Dresden in Germany. People born without a sense of smell have an increased social insecurity and an increased risk for suffering with depression .
The researchers surveyed 32 individuals born without a sense of smell, a condition known as Isolated Congenital Anosmia, their responses were compared to people with a functional smelling abilities.
The research reported that being unable to smell was not indicative of difficulties conducting daily smell-related functions, for example deciding with food they preferred and showed little differences from ‘smellers’ in terms of their eating behaviours. They were however, at a higher risk of suffering from symptoms of depression and feeling insecure in social environments, it was also reported that being unable to smell was associated with a higher risk of having household related accidents .
The mechanisms for such differences is yet to be understood, but the research could serve as a means of providing preventative treatment for depression within this possible ‘at risk’ group.