Advances in the Prediction and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Diseases via Olfactory System
FANG Yuanyuan1,2, XU Shujie1, CHEN Zihao1, MIAO Xuemeng1,2, WU Qian1,2, WANG Hui1, MIAO Shuangda1, HUANG Yucheng1, CHEN Zirun1,2, HUANG Zhihui1,2,3*, XU Xingxing1*
The human olfactory system can perceive a large number of chemical substances. Olfaction disorders are common neurological symptoms, and their prevalence and severity increase substantially with aging. Due to the lack of blood-brain barrier, the olfactory system is a susceptible portal for xenobiotics, nevertheless, it serves as an ideal anatomical window for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Olfaction disorders are detected in the early onset of various psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Hypofunction of the olfactory system is considered as a precursor to cognitive decline in certain neurodegenerative diseases. The high prevalence of olfaction disorders, along with the simplicity and low cost of assessment, endows it with great prospects in clinical applications. Thus, understanding the relationship between olfaction disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases can help formulate early diagnosis and predict clinical progression. This review provides a brief summary of the characteristics of the olfactory system, the relationship between olfaction disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases, as well as possible treatments, in order to provide new ideas for early diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.
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