From: olivercranglejr@gmail.com   
      
   Olfactory bulb size may change as sense of smell changes   
      
      
       
   Jun 16, 2008   
   The olfactory bulb in the brain appears to change in size in a way that   
   corresponds to individual alterations in sense of smell, according to a report   
   in the June issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.   
      
   The size of the olfactory bulb has been studied in patients who have lost   
   their sense of smell due to injury, infection, congenital conditions or   
   neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in those with a normal sense of smell,   
   according to background    
   information in the article. Research indicates that the size of the olfactory   
   bulb changes throughout adult life.   
   Antje Haehner, M.D., and colleagues at University of Dresden Medical School,   
   Germany, studied 20 patients with loss of sense of smell, or "olfactory loss."   
   Once between 2003 and 2004 and again 13 to 19 months later, patients underwent   
   an assessment that    
   included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and nasal endoscopy, an   
   examination of the nose with a lighted, flexible instrument known as an   
   endoscope. Their olfactory function was tested using a kit that measures   
   individuals' threshold of    
   detecting odors, ability to discriminate between odors and identification of   
   particular odors.   
      
   At the first assessment, seven of the 20 patients had no sense of smell   
   (anosmia) and 13 had a reduced sense of smell (hyposmia), while at the second   
   assessment six had anosmia and 14 had hyposmia. In patients who initially had   
   hyposmia, the volume of    
   the olfactory bulb increased as olfactory function increased. However, no   
   correlation was found between the volume of the olfactory bulb and the ability   
   to distinguish between or identify specific odors.   
      
   Source: JAMA and Archives Journals   
      
      
      
      
      
   http://m.phys.org/_news132854163.html   
      
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