Hey friends! So, you know how losing your taste and smell has been one of those strange COVID symptoms? Well, it turns out there might be a genetic reason behind it. I recently caught COVID around Christmas despite being fully vaccinated and boosted. Thankfully, my case was mild—just a few sniffles and a scratchy throat (seriously, get your vaccine and booster if you haven’t yet!). But one of the weirdest things was that I lost all sensitivity to spicy food, and that lingering symptom stuck around for weeks after I started feeling better.
Now, researchers are diving into this mystery. A study published in Nature Genetics has found a possible genetic risk factor that could explain why some folks lose their sense of smell when infected with COVID. This discovery could help scientists figure out how to treat this frustrating symptom and maybe even pinpoint why it affects some people more than others.
The loss of taste and smell can be a long-lasting issue, especially for those dealing with “long haul” COVID. In fact, around 1.6 million people in the U.S. are still experiencing changes to these senses six months after their infection. Until now, scientists were scratching their heads about why this happens, but this new research has identified a specific genetic location near the olfactory genes that might increase the odds of losing your sense of smell by up to 11 percent.
“It helps answer the question of ‘why me’ when it comes to taste and smell loss with COVID-19,” said Dr. Emily Carter, who studies differences in taste and smell loss due to the virus. “Some people experience it, and others do not. Our genetics might play a role.” According to the study, as many as 68 percent of individuals infected with COVID-19 report some level of taste or smell loss. This research is a crucial step towards understanding the phenomenon, and it might even lead to treatments for those affected.
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In summary, new research suggests a genetic link to the loss of taste and smell in COVID-19 patients. With further investigation, we may finally begin to understand this symptom and find ways to help those affected regain their senses.
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