About this Research Topic
Olfactory dysfunction, also known as anosmia and hyposmia, is one of the most prevalent (80-90%) symptoms reported by patients with COVID-19. Outside the context of COVID-19, chemosensory dysfunction has been associated with decreased quality of life, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. In the setting of COVID-19, decreased sense of smell has been positively associated with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. The short-term and long-term neuropsychiatric implications of the olfactory dysfunction related to COVID-19 are still largely unexplored. Investigation of the neuropsychiatric sequelae of olfactory dysfunction related to COVID-19 infection is particularly critical to characterize the pathological effects of COVID-19 on brain function and to develop strategies to improve patient’s quality of life and mental wellbeing.
In this Research Topic, Frontiers aims to highlight studies that investigate the neuropsychiatric, psychological, and cognitive consequences of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction, present current advances in the field, and anticipate health care needs for the development of therapeutic interventions.
We particularly welcome randomized controlled trials, preclinical studies, high-quality narrative reviews, systematic reviews, minireview, meta-analyses, quasi-experimental studies, or other experimental design studies. Potential topics include:
• Assessment of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and its association with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.
• Association between COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and mood disorders.
• Short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 anosmia on memory and plasticity.
• COVID-19-related loss of smell and cognitive impairment.
• COVID-19, the olfactory system, and brain function.
• Neuropsychiatric sequelae of olfactory dysfunction caused by COVID-19 infection.
• Molecular mechanism of COVID-19 induced olfactory dysfunction.
• Treatment options to mitigate psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms associated with COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction.
• Olfactory training and other interventions in the context of COVID-19-induced loss of smell to mitigate psychological, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.
In this Research Topic, Frontiers aims to highlight studies that investigate the neuropsychiatric, psychological, and cognitive consequences of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction, present current advances in the field, and anticipate health care needs for the development of therapeutic interventions.
We particularly welcome randomized controlled trials, preclinical studies, high-quality narrative reviews, systematic reviews, minireview, meta-analyses, quasi-experimental studies, or other experimental design studies. Potential topics include:
• Assessment of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and its association with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.
• Association between COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and mood disorders.
• Short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19 anosmia on memory and plasticity.
• COVID-19-related loss of smell and cognitive impairment.
• COVID-19, the olfactory system, and brain function.
• Neuropsychiatric sequelae of olfactory dysfunction caused by COVID-19 infection.
• Molecular mechanism of COVID-19 induced olfactory dysfunction.
• Treatment options to mitigate psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms associated with COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction.
• Olfactory training and other interventions in the context of COVID-19-induced loss of smell to mitigate psychological, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.
Keywords: COVID-19, olfactory dysfunction, cognitive impairment, mood disorder, affective disorder, anxiety, anosmia, depression, hyposmia, loss of smell, neuroplasticity, neuropsychiatry, psychological effects
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
