"Physicians at Massachusetts Eye and Ear have for the first time induced a sense of smell in humans by using electrodes in the nose to stimulate nerves in the olfactory bulb a structure in the brain where smell information from the nose is processed and sent to deeper regions of brain. Reporting online today in International Forum of Allergy  Rhinology the research team describes their results which provide a proof of concept for efforts to develop implant technology to return the sense of smell to those who have lost it. Our work shows that smell restoration technology is an idea worth studying further said corresponding author Eric Holbrook MD https Chief of Rhinology at Mass. Eye and Ear and associate professor of otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School. The development of cochlear implants for example didnt really accelerate until someone placed an electrode in the cochlea of a patient and found that the patient heard a frequency of some type. Smell loss or anosmia has an estimated prevalence of  percent of the general population. While some cases of anosmia may be treated by caring for an underlying cause often nasal obstruction in which odors cant reach the nerves of the olfactory system due to swelling polyps or sinus disease other cases involving damage to the sensory nerves of the nose i.e. head injury viruses and aging are much more complex. There are currently no proven therapies for these cases. Our sense of smell not only contributes to our enjoyment of life but also to our daily safety and well being. We rely on our sense of smell to make us aware of smoke in detecting a fire natural gas leaks and to avoid eating rotten food. In the elderly of whom there are estimates that greater than  percent of the population over the age of  has experienced smell loss it can be difficult to get proper nutrition as the sensation of flavor is closely tied to the sense of smell and as flavor diminishes appetite decreases in this population. A Cochlear Implant for the Nose Motivated by work conducted by research colleagues at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys School of Medicine httpsnews.vcu.eduarticleVCU_researchers_are_developing_a_device_to_restore_a_persons Mass. Eye and Ear physicians wanted to address the question of whether electrical stimulation of the olfactory bulb could induce the sense of smell in human subjects. The findings described in the International Forum of Allergy  Rhinology report demonstrate this feasibility. In the report the researchers describe endoscopic procedures to position electrodes in the sinus cavities of five patients with an intact ability to smell. Three patients described sensations of smell including reports of onions antiseptic sour and fruity aromas as a result of the stimulation. This breakthrough in human patients opens the door for a cochlear implant for the nose to be developed  though the study authors caution that the concept of an olfactory stimulator is more challenging than existing technologies. The most successful neuroprosthesic device in the world cochlear implants have been on the market for more than three decades to electrically stimulate the auditory nerve to restore hearing in people with profound hearing loss. Theres currently so little that we can do for these patients and we hope to eventually be able to reestablish smell in people who dont have a sense of smell Dr. Holbrook said. Now we know that electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb can provide a sense of smell  and thats encouraging. In addition to Dr. Holbrook authors on the International Forum of Allergy  Rhinology study include cofirst author Sidharth V. Puram MD PhD of Washington University School of Medicine Reiner B. See MD and Aaron G. Tripp of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dinesh G. Nair MD of Brigham and Womens Hospital. About Massachusetts Eye and Ear  Massachusetts Eye and Ear https founded in  is an international center for treatment and research and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. A member of Partners HealthCare Mass. Eye and Ear specializes in ophthalmology eye care and otolaryngologyhead and neck surgery ear nose and throat care. Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians provide care ranging from the routine to the very complex. Also home to the worlds largest community of hearing and vision researchers Mass. Eye and Ear has pioneered new treatments for blindness deafness and diseases of the head and neck. Our scientists are driven by a mission to discover the basic biology underlying these conditions and to develop new treatments and cures. In the  Best Hospitals Survey U.S. News  World Report ranked Mass. Eye and Ear  in the nation for eye care and  for ear nose and throat care. For more information about lifechanging care and research at Mass. Eye and Ear please visit our blog Focus httpsfocus.masseyeandear.org and follow us on Twitter httpstwitter.commasseyeandear and Facebook https SEE ORIGINAL STUDY httpsonlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal"