Odors of Disease and Immune Response
December 12, 2017 | Terry Sharrer
Alexander Graham Bell had an interesting observation: “If you are ambitious to find a new science, measure a smell.” This is the intriguing notion behind recent developments of “electronic noses” and breathalyzers. Physicians have long known that typhoid fever, for example, smells like baking bread; hyperaminoaciduria, like dried malt. Sensing these odors derive from the major histocompatibility complex where both immunity and olfaction interact. This piece suggests that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have odors that could be useful biomarkers. MORE
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