Consortium studying link between COVID-19 and loss of sense of smell

Olfactory researchers Ilja Croijmans and Jasper de Groot of Utrecht University have teamed up with around 600 scientists and other professionals to form a global consortium to study the link between COVID-19 and the loss of sense of smell and taste. Croijmans: ‘Loss of smell and taste could be early indicators of COVID-19. These symptoms may occur more frequently with COVID-19 and are more severe than with the normal flu.’ On behalf of the consortium, Croijmans and De Groot are asking people who might be infected with COVID-19 and/or are experiencing loss of smell/taste to complete an online questionnaire about their symptoms.

Patients with COVID-19 and their doctors regularly report that patients experience rapid-onset loss of their sense of smell and taste, even in the absence of other complaints. Healthcare organisations all over the world have therefore recognised loss of smell and taste as a symptom of COVID-19. To examine whether there is scientific evidence for the link between COVID-19 and loss of smell and taste, researchers from over 50 countries have united to form the Global Consortium of Chemosensory Researchers (GCCR).

Represented by Croijmans and De Groot, Utrecht University is part of this group of more than 600 clinicians, neurobiologists, data scientists, cognitive scientists, sensory researchers and technicians.

Preventing further spread

Represented by Croijmans and De Groot, Utrecht University is part of this group of more than 600 clinicians, neurobiologists, data scientists, cognitive scientists, sensory researchers and technicians. The GCCR will use the data gathered in a global survey to determine whether loss of smell and taste could be a reliable early warning sign for COVID-19. If so, information about loss of smell and taste can be used to prevent further spreading of the virus, for example by promoting self-isolation. The survey can currently be accessed via the GCCR website, where the questionnaire is now available in more than ten languages (including Dutch).

In addition to the GCCR project, there is another initiative exploring the relation between COVID-19 and loss of sense of smell. Professor Monique Smeets is involved in this initiative. Visit smelltracker.org to participate.