(MEDICAL NEWS) – Anosmia, or the loss of the ability to smell, can have many causes. More recently, both anosmia and hyposmia have been associated with infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
However, this condition can also be caused by genetic disorders, traumatic injuries, and mutations in the ion channels that allow messages to be transmitted from the olfactory neurons to the brain. Most commonly, mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7) have been known to lead to either total or partial loss of smell.
In a recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv*, researchers discuss a new method of tracking the Nav1.7 channel to reduce the reliance on more invasive diagnostic measures.
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