Loss of smell may be an early sign of brain diseases
I lived the first 20 or so years of my early life not knowing about smells. I think I already "knew" that I can't smell but I never really appreciated this about myself. I had always been "immune" to smelly things like animal poo, dead animals or whatever (which is abundant since I lived in a remote area). I think the receptors are there because I do feel weird or "sense" that something is wrong when there's smell (only once they told me about it so maybe its just psychological) but I do feel a "sensation" when something that gives out a strong smell is put close to my nose (like perfume and things like that).<p>However, my brain can't seem to connect which is what. I have no idea what "smelly things" smell like, or what makes a perfume smell "good".<p>So my family would often asked me to dispose of things that really smell or enter a really smelly room and things like that because they thought I am just "stoic" in this sense. I think they first realized that I don't smell is when I was shocked when they said that my coffee smelt nice. They went "Wait, you don't know coffee smell?". I had always faked my responses when people ask about smell and basically gave awkward smile or grief whenever is appropriate lol.<p>It didn't dawned on me until recently that I am missing out on a 1/5 a human experience.  It also meant that I am very anxious if I am cleaning up properly (do I smell? did I miss a spot?)<p>Does anyone share the same experience? I wonder how you cope with this issue. I don't have any SO so I don't have a mirror that I can reflect on if the room or myself smell or whatever.