A complete inability to smell, whether permanent or temporary, is called anosmia. Because the ability to taste the full flavor of foods depends on the ability to smell, the condition may reduce interest in food and cause related complications, such as inadequate nutrition, weight loss and even depression. Anosmia can also prove dangerous because sufferers are unable to distinguish spoiled food or smell gas and smoke.
Nasal Lining Issues
Anosmia can result when the mucus membranes that line the inside of the nose experience permanent damage or temporary irritation. Common medical causes of lost smell due to damaged or irritated mucus membranes include the common cold, flu, nasal allergies such as hay fever, nonallergic rhinitis and sinus infections. Substances in the environment, such as chemicals and dust, may also irritate the inner lining of the nose or the tissue at the top of it. Problems with the nasal lining are usually temporary.
Nasal Passage Blockage
Obstructions in the nasal passages that interfere with the ability of air to flow properly can cause anosmia because they prevent air from traveling to the receptors in the nose responsible for sensing smells. Such blockages include bone and septal deformities, tumors and nasal polyps, all of which are frequently correctable with medical intervention, such as surgery to physically cut out the obstruction.
Brain or Nerve Damage
Numerous medical conditions can hinder the functioning of the receptors inside the nose that normally perceive smells. When damaged, the receptors are unable to communicate properly with the nerves that relay information about smells to the brain, which leads to anosmia. Such medical conditions include Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, hormonal problems, malnutrition, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and brain aneurysms, injuries and tumors.
Medications
Various medications can inhibit the olfactory system, including amphetamines, naphazoline, estrogen, terbinafine and phenothiazines. Using nasal decongestants for too long can also produce a similar effect.
Congenital Disorder
Although rare, some individuals are born with anosmia, which is called Kallman's syndrome or congenital anosmia. This type of anosmia can affect more than one member of a family, and related symptoms include abnormal menstruation and reduced pubic hair in women, abnormal genital size and reduced facial and pubic hair in men, and sterility in both genders.
Aging
Anosmia is more common in people over the age of 60, according to the Mayo Clinic. A reduced ability to smell is a natural and frequent side effect of growing older, and it often has no identifiable cause or treatment options.
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