Neurobiological mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction: a ten-year bibliometric and visualization analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Genetics

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is increasingly recognized in neurodegenerative diseases and as a sequela of COVID-19.
• Research into the mechanisms underlying OD is growing, yet bibliometric analyses remain scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on olfactory dysfunction mechanisms.
• To identify key trends, influential publications, and research hotspots in the field.
• To summarize interventional clinical trials for olfactory dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 7,915 articles from Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and R.
• PubMed search and review of interventional clinical trials, tracking protocols via registration and ethical approval.

Main Results:

• Publication output on OD mechanisms is increasing, with the USA as the leading country.
• "COVID-19," "Parkinson's disease," and "inflammation" are identified as prominent research keywords.
• Fourteen interventional clinical trials were identified, focusing on pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and surgical approaches.

Conclusions:

• OD research is progressing towards understanding precise molecular mechanisms.
• Inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and metabolic factors, including dysregulated NF-κB, cAMP, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, contribute to OD.
• This study establishes a translational framework linking mechanistic research to clinical interventions for olfactory dysfunction.