Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

14.3K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
14.3K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

49.8K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
49.8K
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

4.1K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
4.1K
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

14.0K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
14.0K
Menopause01:28

Menopause

5.1K
Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
5.1K
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

315
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
315

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cognitive Function and Cardiac Rehabilitation Attendance in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease Events: ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES STUDY.

Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention·2026
Same author

Infective Endocarditis Hospitalizations in Kentucky, 2008-2018: Spatial and Temporal Trends.

Journal of Appalachian health·2026
Same author

Association Between Chronic PM2.5 Exposure and CT-Detected Lung Abnormalities in the SPIROMICS Cohort.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2026
Same author

Examining the Relevance of Gait Speed Resiliencies to Different Stressors: the ARIC Study.

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·2026
Same author

Life Expectancy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

JAMA internal medicine·2026
Same author

Olfaction and muscle strength in older adults: a longitudinal study.

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·2026
Same journal

Cost-Effectiveness of Perioperative Pembrolizumab in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
Same journal

Blood Manganese and Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
Same journal

Comparison of Diet and Lifestyle Program With 3 Medication Approaches for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease Management.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
Same journal

International Trends in Head and Neck Cancer Mortality.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
Same journal

Dynamic Quality-of-Life Trajectories After Head and Neck Reconstruction.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
Same journal

Smell and Taste Disturbances Among Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Users.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
07:27

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

22.8K

Dysfunction in Olfactory Identification and Physical Function Decline in Older Adults.

Yulu Pan1, Honglei Chen2, Yaqun Yuan2

  • 1Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill.

JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck Surgery
|March 26, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Poor sense of smell in older adults is linked to declining physical function. This olfactory dysfunction may signal increased risk for functional aging and warrants further investigation into underlying biological mechanisms.

More Related Videos

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

10.2K
Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

11.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
07:27

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Published on: August 25, 2014

22.8K
A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
10:42

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function

Published on: July 30, 2017

10.2K
Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
06:40

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

11.0K

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Neuroscience
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Longitudinal studies on olfactory dysfunction and physical decline are limited.
  • Understanding the relationship between senses and physical function in aging is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between olfactory function and physical function in adults aged 65 and older.
  • To identify potential early indicators of functional aging.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a prospective cohort.
  • Assessed olfaction using the Sniffin' Sticks Odor Identification Test and physical function via the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed, and grip strength.
  • Analyzed data from 5474 participants across multiple visits spanning 2011-2019.

Main Results:

  • Poor olfaction was significantly associated with lower overall physical performance (SPPB scores).
  • Longitudinal analysis revealed that participants with poor olfaction experienced a faster annual decline in SPPB scores compared to those with good olfaction.
  • Declines were observed across physical function measures including balance, gait speed, and grip strength.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory dysfunction in older adults is associated with a decline in physical functioning.
  • These findings suggest that olfactory assessment could help identify older adults at higher risk of functional decline.
  • Further research is needed to explore the biological mechanisms connecting olfactory dysfunction and aging.