Analysis of Human Olfactory Biopsies in Alzheimer's Disease and Smell Loss

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the function of the olfactory lining in the nose, which plays a key role in the sense of smell. This research includes both healthy people and those with conditions that might affect their sense of smell, such as Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory conditions, aging, or loss of smell after a viral infection. The goal is to understand the active cell types in the olfactory tissue under both healthy and disease conditions. Participants will undergo smell testing using recognized methods like the Smell Identification Test or Sniffin' Sticks Test. Biopsies of the olfactory lining will be collected either in a clinic setting using a nasal endoscope and cytology brush or during unrelated nasal surgeries in an operating room. Some participants may also be asked to sniff specific odors to stimulate olfactory cells before the biopsy. The collected tissue samples will be analyzed with various lab techniques to study cellular and genetic changes. During the study, participants will have their smell function measured and may undergo nasal biopsies with local anesthesia and nasal endoscopy. Researchers will collect data on transcription changes in olfactory cells over the planned five-year study period. The involvement includes clinical exams, smell tests, possible odor stimulation, and tissue collection. Safety and consent procedures are observed throughout, and the study will last up to the end date in 2028.

Olfactory Biopsies