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How is our sense of smell linked to genes? Scientists have discovered differences between men and women
Last reviewed: 03.08.2025
How we smell isn’t just a matter of taste – our genes also influence it. An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Leipzig has conducted the largest genetic study of the human sense of smell to date. Researchers from the Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE) have identified seven new genetic regions associated with the ability to perceive smells.
In the long term, the findings could help better understand olfactory disorders and facilitate earlier detection of diseases. The research paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Smell is the least studied of our senses, despite the fact that olfactory disorders can significantly reduce quality of life and be an important sign of hidden diseases. The study analyzed the genetic basis of olfaction in more than 21,000 people of European descent.
Particular attention was paid to possible differences between men and women. To do this, scientists used genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which compare the genetic material of a large number of people.
The Link Between Olfaction, Alzheimer's Disease, and Hormones
"We identified 10 genetic regions associated with the ability to sense certain odours – seven of which were previously unknown. Three regions also showed sex differences, meaning they function differently in men and women," explains Professor Markus Scholz, head of the study from IMISE at the University of Leipzig.
These findings help explain why women, for example, smell differently during their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. They may also lead to more accurate diagnosis of diseases that take into account biological differences between sexes.
Another important finding of the study:
"We found a link between the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the ability to smell. This strengthens the evidence that **olfaction, sex hormones and neurodegenerative diseases are interconnected," says Franz Förster, first author of the study and a young scientist at the Faculty of Medicine.
The genetic effects identified in the analysis were limited to the perception of individual odors—no universal genetic region was found that would influence the perception of many odors at once.
Identifying odors using special pens
As part of the Leipzig LIFE Adult study and other partner projects, participants were asked to identify 12 common odors using special scent pens. Their answers were compared with genetic data and analyzed in a large-scale meta-analysis led by IMISE.
An even larger study is currently being conducted as part of the National Health Cohort Study of Germany (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie), in which the University of Leipzig is also participating. Around 200,000 people are taking part. The scientists at IMISE hope that this will allow them to study genetic and gender differences in olfaction in even greater detail.