Scientists Reveal Two Genetic Factors That Cause Loss of Smell and Taste Due to Covid-19

KOMPAS.com – Scientists have identified potential genetic risk factors, which could explain why some people lose their sense of taste and smell when infected Covid-19.

A study published in the journal Nature Gencetics, researchers at genomics and biotechnology company 23andMe collected data on the loss of smell or taste associated with COVID-19.

For information, six months after being infected with corona, as many as 1.6 million people in the United States still cannot smell or experience changes in the ability to smell.

Although the exact cause of the loss of taste and smell is not known, scientists suspect it stems from damage to infected cells in the nasal passages called the olfactory epithelium, the cells that protect olfactory neurons to help humans smell.

Also read: Nasal Vitamin A Therapy is being Tried to Treat Anosmia

“How we get an infection to lose our sense of smell is still unclear,” said a professor of otolaryngology at Vanderbilt University. Justin Turner, who was not involved in the research.

“Preliminary data suggest the olfactory epithelial supporting cells are most heavily infected by the virus, and perhaps this causes the death of the neuron itself. But we don’t really know why and when it occurs, and why it appears to occur in certain people.” .

A genetic locus near two olfactory genes has been linked to the loss of the sense of smell and taste caused by Covid-19. A locus is a fixed position of a gene on a chromosome.

These genetic risk factors increase the chance that a person infected with SARS-CoV-2 will experience a loss of smell or taste by 11 percent. However, some estimates suggest 4 out of 5 Covid-19 patients regain the ability of both senses.

Also read: Children Positive for Covid-19 and Suffering from Anosmia, Here’s How to Get Children to Eat

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The researchers conducted the study with respondents living in the United States or Great Britain.

A total of 69,841 people reported a positive test result, with 68 percent reporting loss of smell or taste as a symptom. Loss of smell and taste were combined as one survey question.

This study compared positive participants who reported loss of taste and smell, with people who tested positive for coronavirus but did not experience these effects.

Launch CTV News, it is more likely to be experienced by women with a percentage of 72 percent compared to men by 61 percent.

The research team found regions of the genome associated with the ability to smell and feel located near two genes, namely UGT2A1 and UGT2A2. Both of these genes are expressed in tissues inside the nose that are involved in smell and play a role in odor metabolism.

Also read: Not only the sense of smell, how can Covid-19 damage the five senses?

The two olfactory neurons appeared to be the difference between participants with or without sensory loss as a symptom.

Although this study has not been able to explain with certainty the involvement of these two genes in the sensory abilities of a person infected with the virus, interference from both of the infected cells can cause a loss of smell.

Also read: Here’s How to Restore Your Smell After Recovering from Covid-19

Furthermore, loss of smell or taste was much more common in people who tested positive for coronavirus, compared to the group who reported cold or flu symptoms but did not have coronavirus.

With loss of taste and smell the hallmark symptoms of most pandemics, the findings of this study pave the way for further investigating how viruses affect people differently and finding appropriate treatments.

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