TED Talks Daily
Why smell matters more than you think | Paule Joseph
Mar 3, 2025
Paule Joseph, a chemosensory researcher and TED Fellow, explores the often-underappreciated sense of smell. She reveals how this sense profoundly influences our memories and emotions, connecting to the brain's limbic system. Paule discusses its critical role in detecting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and emphasizes the need for routine smell assessments in healthcare. By advocating for a baseline test for smell and taste, she aims to enhance early disease detection and promote awareness about olfactory health.
14:49
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Quick takeaways
- Paule Joseph emphasizes the critical role of smell in early disease detection, highlighting its connection to neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
- The podcast discusses the cultural undervaluation of smell, advocating for increased awareness and the integration of olfactory health assessments in routine medical check-ups.
Deep dives
The Importance of Smell in Health
The sense of smell plays a crucial role in identifying potential health issues, as it is directly connected to the brain's limbic system, which governs emotions and memory. Many diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, can lead to a diminished sense of smell years before other symptoms appear. Despite its significance, smell is often overlooked in clinical assessments, leaving a gap in early diagnosis that could improve patient outcomes. A practical example provided was a personal experience where a diminished sense of smell in a family member indicated the onset of a serious condition.
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