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Home , Joint, Sense of smell

August 2016

National Institutes of Health • Department of Health and Services • newsinhealth.nih.gov

Inside News: 3 Spotlight on Psoriasis... 4 Variability... Encourage Early Learning... Genetics Education What Your Knows of Smell and Your Health Your enriches your ex- “Lavender is a good example, perience of the world around you. which is touted as a relaxation Different scents can change your ,” Beauchamp says. “But mood, transport you back to a the question is: Is that a relax- distant , and may even ation odor because we’ve help you bond with loved ones. had past experience with Your ability to smell also plays this particular odor where a key role in your health. If we’ve been relaxed, and so your ability to smell declines, we’ve learned the associa- it can affect your diet and nu- tion?” Scientists continue trition, physical well-being, to examine how different and everyday safety. types of aromatherapies Whether coffee brew- might affect our health ing, pine trees in a forest, and well-being. or smoke from a fire, the Smell is also important things we smell are actually for your of tiny molecules released by . your food substances all around us. When releases aromas that travel we breathe in these molecules, from your and throat they stimulate specialized sensory to the nose. Without smell, cells high inside the nose. Each of we can detect only 5 basic : these sensory cells has only one type sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and of odor —a structure on (savory). But our incorporate the cell that selectively latches onto physical thing, our may information from both taste and a specific type of “smelly” molecule. be very different,” Beauchamp says. smell receptors to create the There are more smells in the environ- Because smell information is sent perception of many different . ment than there are odor receptors. to different parts of the , Some people may think they’ve But a given molecule can stimulate can influence many aspects of our lost their sense of taste if food begins a combination of these receptors, lives, such as memory, mood, and to taste bland or slightly “off.” But in creating a unique representation in . For thousands of years, fra- fact, they may have lost their ability the brain of a particular smell. grant plants have been used in heal- to smell. “It’s estimated that the number ing practices across many cultures, Many things can cause smell loss. of odors that people can detect is including ancient China, India, and A stuffy nose, or a harmless growth somewhere between 10,000 and Egypt. Aromatherapy, for example, in the nose (called a polyp) can block 100 billion, or even more,” says aims to use essential oils from flow- air and thus odors from reaching Dr. Gary Beauchamp, a taste and ers, herbs, or trees to improve physi- continued on page 2 smell researcher at Monell Chemical cal and emotional well-being. Center in Philadelphia. We To date, there’s little scientific all have different combinations of evidence supporting aromatherapy’s odor-detecting cells in our , effectiveness for most health issues. @ he explains, so people vary greatly Yet of smell can be vivid Subscribe in their sensitivity to smells. “In and long lasting, which may have a fact, when you or I smell the same positive effect. newsinhealth.nih.gov 2 August 2016 newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016 continued from page 1 the sensory cells. Certain medica- The problem increases with age, tions, like some antibiotics or blood with 39% of those ages 80 and older Web Links pressure pills, can alter smell. These showing a deficit. effects are usually temporary. Your “Quality of life issues from smell For more about sense of smell and smell should come back once you’ve loss affect people differently depend- your health, click the “Links” tab at: recovered or stopped the treatments. ing upon their situation,” Hoffman newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016/Feature1 But some things can cause a long- says. “The effects can be enormous.” lasting loss of smell. A or Food can become less enjoyable. You virus, for example, can sometimes may lose interest in eating or change memory become impaired as we damage the related to smell. your eating habits, consuming a less grow older.” And your ability to smell may natu- healthy diet. But problems with your ability to rally fade as you get older. People who’ve lost their sense of smell may be more than normal ag- “A good sized majority of people smell sometimes try to boost ing. They can sometimes be an early don’t know they have a problem with by adding more salt or sugar to their sign of serious health conditions, their sense of smell,” says Howard foods. But these additions might such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheim- Hoffman, a public health expert at cause problems for those at risk for er’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. NIH. A national health and nutrition certain medical conditions, such as Devanand’s group is currently study- survey recently revealed that 12% high blood pressure, disease, ing the relationships between smell of adults have a smell dysfunction. or diabetes. Talk with your doctor if dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease. you think a smell deficit might be af- If your food doesn’t smell or taste fecting your quality of life. the way you think it should, talk to Smell loss can also put you in your doctor. Health care providers Wise Choices harm’s way if you don’t notice a can give you a “scratch and sniff” Smell Loss and Safety “warning” smell. The recent national smell identification test to help assess If you’ve lost your ability to smell, health and nutrition survey found the kind of smell disorder you might it’s important to find other ways that 1 in 10 people couldn’t identify have. This test alone can’t diagnose to detect: the smell of smoke, and about 15% more serious health problems, but it n Smoke. Check your smoke couldn’t identify the smell of natural can be informative when used along- detectors once a year to make gas. “As people get older, those rates side other tests. sure they work. go up,” Hoffman says. For those ages Smell may be the most mysterious 70 and older, 20% couldn’t identify of our 5 senses, Beauchamp says. “We n Gas leaks. Make sure you have a the smell of smoke, and 31% couldn’t know quite a bit about smell loss and gas detector in your home. recognize gas odor. can diagnose this fairly well. But, for n Spoiled food. Throw out food “With age, there is a decline in the the most part, we have no treatments that’s been in the refrigerator ability to smell to some extent in the that are reliable and widely accepted” too long and practice other nose, but much more in the brain for long-lasting cases of smell loss. basic food safety. Learn more itself,” says Dr. Davangere Devanand Some studies suggest that smell at www.foodsafety.gov. at Columbia University, an expert training may help you improve your n Household chemicals. Make on neurodegenerative diseases and ability to discriminate and identify sure there’s fresh air where you smell loss. “The main reason appears odors. It may stimulate growth of live and work. to be that the functioning of the new receptors or improve your brain’s brain regions involved in smell and ability to interpret low levels of odors, Beauchamp explains. But researchers are still learning how and whether NIH News in Health Editor Harrison Wein, Ph.D. ISSN 2375-6993 (Print) Managing Editor Vicki Contie this works. ISSN 1556-3898 (Online) Like all of your senses, your sense Contributors Vicki Contie, Alan Defibaugh of smell plays an important part in (illustrations), Claire Donnelly, and Tianna Hicklin National Institutes of Health your life. If you think you’re experi- Office of encing a loss of taste or smell, see & Public Liaison Attention Editors Reprint our articles and illustrations in your own Building 31, Room 5B64 publication. Our material is not copyrighted. Please acknowledge your health care provider. There may Bethesda, MD 20892-2094 NIH News in Health as the source and send us a copy. be ways to help fix the problem. If [email protected] not, your doctor can help you Tel: 301-402-7337 For more health information from NIH, visit learn to cope with the changes in n newsinhealth.nih.gov health.nih.gov smell and taste. newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016 August 2016 3 Spotlight on Psoriasis Preventing Patches of Itchy, Sore Skin You may have heard of psoriasis, but Dr. Joel Gelfand, a skin specialist do you know what it is? Psoriasis is a (dermatologist) at the University long-term, or chronic, skin disorder of Pennsylvania. People with mod- that affects more than 6.7 million U.S. erate to severe psoriasis may feel adults. Symptoms can vary, but it’s self-conscious or have a poor self- usually recognized by itchy or sore image, which can lead to depres- patches of thick, red skin with silvery sion or social isolation. scales. There’s currently no cure, but Some people with psoriasis also treatment often helps. experience joint Psoriasis occurs when skin cells that produces arthritis-like . quickly rise to the surface of the skin This condition is called psoriatic and build up into thick patches, or arthritis. Gelfand and other NIH- plaques. Ordinarily, skin cells mature supported researchers have found as they rise from their origins below that psoriasis—especially severe the surface of the skin. In psoriasis, psoriasis—is linked to certain these cells pile up before they’ve had other disorders as well, such as a chance to properly mature. conditions, obesity, high Psoriasis actually begins in the blood pressure, and diabetes. , which normally Psoriasis can occur at any age, protects the body against but it typically first appears in young “Treatment decisions in psoriasis and disease. In psoriasis, the immune adulthood. Many people with pso- need to be highly individualized and system becomes misdirected and riasis have a family history of the tailored toward the patient’s clinical overactive. This can cause redness disorder. Researchers have been able condition and underlying health sta- and swelling (inflammation) and lead to identify certain linked to tus, as well as their preferences and to the rapid buildup of skin cells. the disease, but they still don’t fully goals,” Gelfand says. Be sure to ask Plaques are most often found on understand the disease . They your doctor about the best treatment the , , or scalp. But they do know that it isn’t contagious. You options for you. can also affect the , fingernails, can’t “catch” psoriasis by touching Psoriasis symptoms may briefly toenails, soft tissues of the genitals, someone who has it. worsen, or flare. These flares can or any skin-covered region. Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose, arise when people are stressed or “Patients can have a lot of symp- because it can look like other skin experience a traumatic event like the toms like itching, cracking, and diseases. Your doctor might need to death of a family member or friend. bleeding that can disrupt their sleep look at a small skin sample under a Smoking, heavy alcohol use, and and their social relationships,” says microscope. It’s often best to make being overweight can also aggravate an appointment with a primary care psoriasis. See the “Wise Choices” box doctor or a dermatologist to get an for tips on avoiding flares. accurate diagnosis. Gelfand and other NIH-funded Wise Choices There are many approaches for researchers have been working to Avoid Psoriasis treating psoriasis. Safe and proven develop better therapies. “It’s a great Triggers treatment options include creams, time to be hopeful and optimistic about this disease,” Gelfand says. Factors that may trigger psoriasis light therapy, and given as pills or a shot. “Most of the therapies coming out or make it worse include: now seem to be well-tolerated and n physical and emotional stress. have impressive effectiveness.” n n injury to the skin such as cuts Definitions or burns. n , especially strep Genes Web Links throat. Stretches of DNA, a substance you inherit from your parents, that define For more information about psoriasis, n cold weather. characteristics such as eye color and click the “Links” tab at: n smoking or heavy alcohol use. your risk for certain diseases. newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016/Feature2 4 August 2016 newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016

For links to more information, see these stories online: Health Capsules newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Aug2016/Capsule1 Arthritis Mechanisms May Vary by Joint immune system function. The team also found that new ers—that differ between rheumatoid and joints with rheuma- for treating and . Such tags toid arthritis have differing genetic arthritis may affect some of these can affect when genes turn on or off markers linked to inflammation, pathways. Their findings might and can regulate immune function. suggesting that different joints may offer an opportunity for developing In the new study, the scientists have varying disease mechanisms. more precise approaches to treating examined epigenetic patterns in joint These new findings may lead to more different arthritic joints. cells from 30 people with rheumatoid effective, personalized therapies for “We showed that the epigenetic arthritis and 16 with osteoarthritis. rheumatoid arthritis. marks vary from joint to joint in rheu- Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthri- People with rheumatoid arthri- matoid arthritis,” says study coauthor tis cells had differing patterns of epi- tis have swelling and pain in joints Dr. Gary S. Firestein of the University genetic tags as expected. But unex- throughout the body. These prob- of California, San Diego. “This might pectedly, in patients with rheumatoid lems arise when the immune system, provide an explanation as to why arthritis, the patterns in knee joint which protects the body from germs some joints improve while others do cells differed from cells in hip joints. and infections, mistakenly attacks the not, even though they are exposed The scientists next assessed the joints. For unknown reasons, differ- to the same .” n ent joints are affected differently in affected biological pathways that people with rheumatoid arthritis. distinguish different joints. Knee An NIH-funded research team and hip joints with rheumatoid arth- Featured Website ritis had differing activated genes previously found that certain cells in GeneEd: Genetics, joints have unique patterns of chemi- and biological pathways. Many of Education, Discovery cal tags—called epigenetic mark- these pathways were related to Help Young Kids Become Lifelong Learners geneed.nlm.nih.gov Research shows that what kids learn Want to know more about genes and in their first few years of life—and in Wise Choices how they work? Or learn about DNA their day-to-day conversations with forensics, biotechnology, and related parents—can have lasting effects Encourage Early Learning careers? This educational website has on their future success and health. up-to-date information, animations, Simple things like encouraging early n Read to your child, beginning games, interactive tutorials, and teacher math, reading, and language skills when she or he is an infant. resources designed for students and can lead to higher grades, a better educators in grades 9 to 12. chance of staying in school and go- n Listen and respond to kids as ing to college, fewer teen pregnan- they learn to talk. Pause to give cies, improved mental health, and them a chance to “speak” in coos, even a longer life. grunts, and eventually words. Get tips and watch brief videos of n Practice counting together. NIH experts who offer ideas to en- n Point out and talk with children courage early learning at www.nichd.nih. about the names, colors, shapes, gov/health/topics/early-learning/topicinfo/Pages/ numbers, and sizes of objects promote.aspx. Each day offers opportu- around them. nities to help your child learn. n How to get NIH News in Health Read it online. Get it by email. Get it in print. Visit newsinhealth.nih.gov Click the “Subscribe” button on Contact us (see page 2) to get free our home page to sign up for print copies for display in offices, email updates when new issues libraries, or clinics within the U.S. are posted online. Subscribe National Institutes of Health Turning Discovery Into Health