Decreased smell function is related to brain health, future mortality, and quality of life. Most people inflicted with the SARS-CoV-2 virus evidence some measurable smell dysfunction during its acute phase, although many are unaware of the loss. Long-term deficits occur in up to 30% of COVID-19 cases, although total anosmia is relatively rare. This review explores what is presently known about the nature and pathophysiology of olfactory dysfunction due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including reversible inflammation within the olfactory cleft, downregulation of olfactory receptor proteins, and long-lasting peripheral and central damage to olfactory structures. It also addresses the question as to whether long-term smell loss might increase the likelihood of future development of cognitive and neurological deficits.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Anosmia, Neuropathology, Taste, Olfaction, 【초록키워드】 Inflammation, Mortality, olfactory dysfunction, Brain, Health, Smell loss, pathophysiology, Quality of life, Evidence, structures, COVID-19 cases, olfactory, dysfunction, cognitive, acute phase, downregulation, receptor proteins, neurological deficits, MOST, likelihood, question, occur, long-lasting, Decreased, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 【제목키워드】 pathology, Brain, Health, dysfunction, implication,