Vaccination to prevent dementia? New research suggests one way viral infections can accelerate neurodegeneration

Inflammation and damage to the olfactory system from shingles, COVID-19 and herpes infections may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

Maria Nagel, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus • conversation
Jan. 18, 2023 • ~9 min

Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor and mindset

Mosquitoes can track down potential hosts using the CO2 released by humans’ metabolic processes, a medical entomologist explains.

Jonathan Day, Emeritus Professor of Medical Entomology, University of Florida • conversation
Sept. 9, 2022 • ~7 min

Mosquitoes have a suped up, bizarre sense of smell

The unconventional way mosquitoes use their odd sense of smell to process odors could help explain why they are so good at finding and biting us.

Jessica Colarossi-Boston University • futurity
Aug. 19, 2022 • ~8 min

From odor to action – how smells are processed in the brain and influence behavior

Understanding how the brain translates smells into behavior change can help advance search and rescue technology and treatments for neurological conditions.

Nathan Urban, Provost and Senior Vice President, Lehigh University • conversation
Jan. 25, 2022 • ~11 min

Synthetic odors created by activating brain cells help neuroscientists understand how smell works

Brains recognize a smell based on which cells fire, in what order – the same way you recognize a song based on its pattern of notes. How much can you change the 'tune' and still know the smell?

Edmund Chong, Ph.D. Student in Neuroscience, New York University • conversation
July 8, 2020 • ~8 min

What makes something smell good or bad?

Mmmmmmm. That smells delicious. Wait, how do you know that?

Weihong Lin, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
June 1, 2020 • ~5 min

Is the loss of your sense of smell and taste an early sign of COVID-19?

Patients who later test positive for COVID-19 are reporting early loss of smell and taste. Researchers are now trying to understand if this could be an early sign of the disease.

Jeb M. Justice, Associate Professor, Chief of the Division of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery, Co-Director UF Health Smell Disorders Program, University of Florida • conversation
March 27, 2020 • ~7 min

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