Heightened Olfactory Sensitivity in Young Females with Recent-Onset Anorexia Nervosa and Recovered Individuals

Bentz, Mette; Guldberg, Johanne; Vangkilde, Signe; Pedersen, Tine; Plessen, Kerstin J.; Jepsen, Jens Richardt Moellegaard

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169183

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…One study found a relationship between parent-reported autistic traits and olfaction [38], Fig. 1 Group scores on the SPQ, summarised by sensory domain and total score and another found no relationship between social and communicative characteristics of autism and smell outcomes [37]. It should be noted that autistic traits have not consistently found to be related to smell sensitivity even in autistic populations, with studies finding conflicting results [50,56,57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A strength of the present study is that the relationship of autistic traits and sensory outcomes in AN was analysed relative to the contributions of anxiety and depression using a multiple regression analysis. This is important as both anxiety and depression are known to influence taste and smell processing, including in AN [33,34,37]. The lifetime prevalence rate of anxiety in autistic adults is 42%, and 37% for depression [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, to date the potential significance of cooccurring autism in taste and smell sensitivity in AN remains under-explored. To date, two studies on smell sensitivity only have included measures of autistic traits in their analyses with conflicting results; in , including measures of social and communication differences associated with autism as a covariate in the analysis did not alter their findings of heightend smell sensitivity, and there was no relationship between these differences and sensory outcomes [37]. By contrast, Tonacci et al (2019) found that adolescents with AN did not differ from healthy controls (HC) on smell sensitivity, but did find a correlation between smell sensitivity and parent-reported autistic traits [38].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relationship of autistic traits to taste and olfactory processing in anorexia nervosa

2020

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Background: There is a heightened prevalence of autism in anorexia nervosa (AN) compared to the general population. Autistic people with AN experience a longer illness duration and poorer treatment outcomes. Whether sensory differences in autism could contribute to altered taste and smell as a potential maintaining factor in AN is under-explored. The aim of this study was to explore whether autistic traits are associated with taste and olfaction differences in AN. Methods: The study recruited n = 40 people with AN, and n = 40 healthy controls (HC). Smell sensitivity was measured using the Sniffin' Sticks test. Taste sensitivity was measured using taste strips. Participants self-rated their autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Results: There were no significant differences on taste and olfactory outcomes between people with AN and HC. These findings did not change after controlling for the heightened levels of autistic traits in the AN group. No relationship between taste and smell outcomes and autistic traits were identified within the AN group. Limitations: The current study is not able to draw conclusions about taste and smell processing in co-occurring autism and AN as it only measured levels of autistic traits, rather than comparing people with and without an autism diagnosis. Conclusions: No significant associations between autistic traits and taste and smell processing in AN were identified. Future research should consider further exploring this area, including by comparing autistic women to women with AN.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relationship of autistic traits to taste and olfactory processing in anorexia nervosa

2020

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“…Among them, anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) experience, especially in more severe cases, a peculiar olfactory processing, made up of distorted sensitivity and reactivity to sensory stimulation, possibly related to the food aversion typical of those individuals [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wearable Sensors for Assessing the Role of Olfactory Training on the Autonomic Response to Olfactory Stimulation

Tonacci

Billeci

Mambro

et al. 2021

Sensors

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Wearable sensors are nowadays largely employed to assess physiological signals derived from the human body without representing a burden in terms of obtrusiveness. One of the most intriguing fields of application for such systems include the assessment of physiological responses to sensory stimuli. In this specific regard, it is not yet known which are the main psychophysiological drivers of olfactory-related pleasantness, as the current literature has demonstrated the relationship between odor familiarity and odor valence, but has not clarified the consequentiality between the two domains. Here, we enrolled a group of university students to whom olfactory training lasting 3 months was administered. Thanks to the analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) and galvanic skin response (GSR) signals at the beginning and at the end of the training period, we observed different autonomic responses, with higher parasympathetically-mediated response at the end of the period with respect to the first evaluation. This possibly suggests that an increased familiarity to the proposed stimuli would lead to a higher tendency towards relaxation. Such results could suggest potential applications to other domains, including personalized treatments based on odors and foods in neuropsychiatric and eating disorders.

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“…It is possible that autistic traits impact sensory sensitivity in AN through an additional mediating variable, although a strength of this study is that it controlled for the potential confounders of anxiety and depression in the regression analysis. Two prior studies have explored objective experimental measures of smell sensitivity and autistic traits in AN with conflicting results [28,29]. This reflects evidence from previous neuropsychological research in AN which has found a similar lack of agreement between self-report and experimental measures of cognitive flexibility [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Pragmatic Sensory Screening in Anorexia Nervosa and Associations with Autistic Traits

Kinnaird

Dandil

et al. 2020

JCM

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Background: Research suggests that people with anorexia nervosa (AN) experience subjective hypersensitivity to external sensations that may require consideration in treatment. These difficulties may be particularly pronounced in people with AN and high autistic traits. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the use of a brief screening tool to assess sensory sensitivity in individuals receiving treatment for AN, and to assess if self-rated sensitivity in AN is related to autistic traits. Methods: 47 individuals receiving treatment for AN completed a brief sensory screening tool and self-rated their autistic traits. Individuals were also asked to give qualitative feedback on the screening tool. Results: People with AN and high autistic traits rated themselves as more hypersensitive compared to people with AN and low autistic traits. Feedback surrounding the use of the screener was positive. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the use of this screener may be beneficial in eating disorder settings to help adjust and calibrate treatment to personal needs, although further research and psychometric evaluation around the clinical use of the screener is required. The finding that people with AN and high autistic traits may experience elevated hypersensitivity also warrants further exploration in future research.

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Heightened Olfactory Sensitivity in Young Females with Recent-Onset Anorexia Nervosa and Recovered Individuals

Cited by 23 publications

References 61 publications

The relationship of autistic traits to taste and olfactory processing in anorexia nervosa

The relationship of autistic traits to taste and olfactory processing in anorexia nervosa

Wearable Sensors for Assessing the Role of Olfactory Training on the Autonomic Response to Olfactory Stimulation

Pragmatic Sensory Screening in Anorexia Nervosa and Associations with Autistic Traits

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