Loss of taste or smell linked to genetic risk factor – NBC New York

Scientists may be on the verge of explaining a distinctive symptom of COVID-19. A recent study suggests that a genetic risk factor is linked to loss of taste or smell.

The review of Natural genetics published a study on Monday identifying a certain genetic risk factor that may be linked to the coronavirus symptoms of loss of taste and smell.

According to a previous study by JAMA Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, an estimated 700,000 to 1.6 million U.S. residents with COVID are estimated to lose or experience a change in sense of smell for more than six months.

The science behind the loss is still unclear. However, this new study suggests there may be a genetic link to the symptom.

The updated research was conducted by genomics and biotechnology company 23andMe. Scientists collected data from nearly 70,000 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients from the US and UK

Of those who participated who experienced COVID-19, just under 70% reported loss of smell or taste as a symptom.

The latest study found additional trends in people with the symptom. Women were more than 10% more likely to report this symptom than men. The results indicated that “people of East Asian or African American origin were significantly less likely to report loss of smell or taste.”

The team compared the genetic differences linked to people infected with SARS-CoV-2 with and without loss of taste and smell.

The study suggested a difference in a fixed location, or locus, on two olfactory genes, UGT2A1 and UGT2A2, which play a role in odorant metabolism.

Those with the variant genes were found to be 11% more likely to experience loss of smell or taste.

The study suggests that loss of smell is linked to damage to human cell tissue inside the nasal cavity, which can completely inhibit the ability to smell.

How these two genes are involved in the olfactory sensation process remains unclear, but researchers believe that UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 could impact the function of infected cells and lead to a loss of ability to smell.