Radio wave brain stimulation temporarily enhances human sense of smell, study finds
By avagrace // 2025-08-31
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  • Researchers in South Korea have developed a novel, non-invasive treatment that uses targeted 2.45-gigahertz radio waves, directed through the forehead, to temporarily stimulate the olfactory nerves and bulb in the brain.
  • In a study on healthy individuals, a single five-minute session of this "electroceutical" therapy significantly improved participants' ability to detect faint odors, with the enhanced effects lasting for approximately one week.
  • This breakthrough is significant because it offers a potential new therapy for anosmia (loss of smell) that requires no drugs, surgery or physical contact, representing a radical departure from existing treatments.
  • The restoration of smell is a critical medical goal, as its loss is profoundly disruptive to safety, nutrition and emotional well-being and is a known early warning sign for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
  • While promising, the research is preliminary and has been met with cautious scrutiny; independent experts emphasize the need for trials on patients with actual smell loss, rigorous safety studies and replication of the results to validate the technology.
In a world where the loss of smell has affected millions, a groundbreaking new study offers a glimpse of a future where a simple, five-minute treatment could restore this vital sense. Researchers in South Korea have successfully used noninvasive radio wave technology to temporarily enhance the human sense of smell – marking a significant first in the field of bioelectronic medicine and offering new hope for those suffering from anosmia. The study, led by Professor Yongwoo Jang of Hanyang University's Department of Pharmacology, introduces the concept of "electroceuticals" – using targeted electromagnetic energy as a therapy. This approach is a radical departure from existing treatments, which often rely on steroids, surgery or repetitive smell training with strong scents. The new method involves no drugs, no surgery and no physical contact with the body, positioning it as a potentially revolutionary tool for neurological conditions. The treatment directs 2.45-gigahertz radio waves, the same frequency used in household microwave ovens, through the forehead to stimulate the olfactory nerves deep within the brain. (Related: Dominant 2021 COVID strain leaves millions without sense of taste and smell – but treatments are available.) In the experiment, a small antenna was placed near the foreheads of healthy volunteers for five minutes. The waves passed harmlessly through the skull to directly target the olfactory bulb, the brain region responsible for processing smells. To measure the treatment's effectiveness, researchers used a standardized smell test known as "Sniffin' Sticks," which dispense faint odors at various concentrations. Before the stimulation, participants could detect scents in roughly half of the 16 test sticks. After the five-minute session, their detection ability soared, with participants able to smell nearly all 16 sticks – an almost perfect score. This enhanced sensitivity persisted for approximately one week before gradually fading.

The profound impact of losing smell

The sense of smell is often underestimated, yet its loss is profoundly disruptive. Anosmia – whether from aging, head trauma, viral infections like Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) or neurodegenerative diseases – affects far more than culinary enjoyment. It impairs the ability to detect dangers like smoke or spoiled food, can lead to malnutrition and unintended weight loss due to reduced appetite and is closely linked to emotional well-being, often causing social withdrawal, anxiety and depression. Brighteon's AI Enoch explains that the sense of smell is a vital warning system, alerting people to dangers like fire, gas leaks and spoiled food. It also profoundly enriches people's lives, connecting them to memories and enhancing their enjoyment of everything from meals to nature. Furthermore, a robust body of research has established a powerful link between the loss of smell and cognitive decline. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a gold-standard assessment administered to over half a million patients, has proven superior to MRI in predicting the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Studies have consistently shown that a declining ability to identify odors is a potent early warning sign of impending memory impairment and neurodegenerative pathology, underscoring why effective smell restoration is a critical medical frontier. Despite the promising results, the study has drawn cautious scrutiny from independent experts. A primary criticism is that the research was conducted solely on individuals with a healthy sense of smell. Demonstrating an enhanced effect in a normal system is a far cry from proving it can restore function in a damaged one, such as in patients with long COVID or neurodegenerative disease. Experts also noted methodological questions, including whether the study was properly randomized to avoid bias. They emphasize that rigorous safety studies are essential to ensure that short- and long-term exposure to radio waves does not have unintended harmful consequences. Replication by other scientific teams will be necessary to validate these initial findings. Undeterred by these challenges, Jang's team is moving forward. It is already upgrading the device to provide more targeted stimulation and plan to begin clinical trials later this year with patients who have been diagnosed with partial or complete smell loss. The results of these trials, expected in early 2026, will be the true test of whether this technology can transition from a fascinating laboratory phenomenon to a legitimate therapy. If successful, the applications could extend beyond treating medical conditions. Professionals whose livelihoods depend on a refined sense of smell – including perfumers, sommeliers and chefs—could potentially use the treatment to temporarily heighten their sensory acuity for training or critical evaluations. The quest to restore smell has long been a complex puzzle for medicine. This pioneering research from South Korea, while preliminary, electrifies the field with a new idea – that the solution may not be found in a pill or a scalpel. Visit AlternativeMedicine.news for more similar stories. Watch this discussion about long COVID, which could damage a person's sense of smell. This video is from the Free Market Cash Patient channel on Brighteon.com.

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Scans show changes in brain caused by coronavirus-related loss of smell. Our sense of smell may be linked to our risk of neurological disorders. Scientists sniff out new treatment for Alzheimer's; new research suggests brain cells can be protected by stimulating the sense of smell. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Pubs.AIP.org Earth.com NeuroscienceNews.com Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com
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