Three of these regions, which have different effects on men and women, are particularly interesting. This could explain why odours are perceived differently during the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. The scientists also found a link between the sense of smell, sex hormones and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The tests were carried out with twelve everyday odours that were presented using special olfactory pens. In the long term, the findings could help to better understand odour disorders, improve gender-specific diagnoses and detect diseases such as Alzheimer's at an earlier stage.
Press release "Universität Leipzig" from 30/07/2025
