On July 9th, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) unveiled the National Smell and Taste Center (NSTC), aiming to enhance research, patient care, and education concerning smell and taste disorders. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on these senses, the NSTC brings together multiple NIH labs and clinics.
The NSTC is co-directed by Dr. Joshua M. Levy, Clinical Director at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and Dr. Paule Valery Joseph, Chief of the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
The National Smell and Taste Center (NSTC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated to advancing the understanding of chemical senses (taste and smell) and related disorders through comprehensive research, education, and patient care.
Inaugural Seminar
During the inaugural seminar, words of support and encouragement were shared by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Representative David Trone (D-MD). NSTC has three interagency partnerships that were highlighted during the seminar: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and NIH Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias.
"Perhaps the most important partnership," Dr. Levy said, "is with the Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias." He goes on, "I was very pleased to hear from our representatives—their awareness of the associations with smell disorders and neurodegenerative diseases—but there is a tremendous amount of work, education, and study that's needed to advance the community's understanding."
Valentina Parma, Assistant Director at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, highlighted the importance of smell and taste, stating, "We need to be a united community around the effort of putting smell and taste at the center of our research, clinics, and daily lives." In her presentation, she emphasized that smell loss is an early symptom of major brain disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease. She noted that people with smell loss are at greater risk of developing depression, anxiety, and diminished nutritional and metabolic health.
Parma pointed out that regular vision tests are common, but smell and taste tests are not, due to the misconception that smell and taste loss are rare.
The seminar underscored the significant role smell and taste play in individuals' lives and the support required from government, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
You can view recording of the inaugural seminar here.
For more information, visit the NIH website.