A new medical breakthrough could offer hope to millions suffering from anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell. This condition, often caused by Covid-19 or other viral infections, has long been considered difficult to treat. However, a promising procedure using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections might restore smell—even for those who lost it years or decades ago.
A Simple but Revolutionary Treatment
In the United Kingdom, Chrissi Kelly has become the first patient to receive this new treatment. The procedure involves extracting PRP from the patient’s own blood. By using a centrifuge, platelets are separated from red and white blood cells, creating a concentrated plasma. This is then injected into the nasal cavity, where it helps regenerate damaged nerves responsible for smell.
Kelly lost her ability to smell in 2012 due to sinusitis. “It felt like a kind of bereavement,” she said, recalling the impact anosmia had on her life. Over time, she also developed phantosmia—where people smell odors that are not present—and parosmia, which distorts how odors are perceived. In an effort to regain her sense of smell, she tried scent training with everyday items like coffee and lavender, but her progress was limited.
To help others dealing with anosmia, Kelly founded the charity AbScent, which provided support and resources for people struggling with smell disorders. The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically increased the number of cases, bringing the condition into the global spotlight. As millions of people lost their sense of smell—including well-known public figures like comedian Katherine Ryan—the demand for treatments soared. AbScent’s support group grew rapidly, expanding from 1,500 members to over 95,000. Unfortunately, the organization had to close last year due to financial difficulties, but its impact on anosmia awareness remains significant.
PRP Treatment: A Potential Game-Changer
The breakthrough in PRP treatment comes from Professor Zara Patel, a leading anosmia researcher at Stanford University. Patel’s studies have shown that PRP injections can encourage the regeneration of the olfactory nerve, the cranial nerve responsible for detecting scents. Unlike most nerves in the body, the olfactory nerve has the unique ability to regenerate, making it a prime candidate for PRP therapy.
According to Patel, many patients in clinical trials have shown noticeable improvements in as little as three months. For some, full recovery took up to a year, but the results have been remarkable. One of the most surprising cases involved a 73-year-old man who regained his sense of smell 45 years after losing it.
Bringing PRP to the NHS
Inspired by Patel’s findings, Professor Claire Hopkins, a leading UK rhinology expert at King’s College London, decided to introduce PRP treatment to her patients. Hopkins was one of the first researchers to establish anosmia as a symptom of Covid-19 early in the pandemic and has spent years studying treatments for the condition.
“I’ve been cautious about promoting new treatments because many anosmia patients are desperate and willing to try anything,” Hopkins explained. “People have attempted folk remedies like burning oranges, but those don’t work. PRP, however, is different. The evidence is strong enough that I feel confident offering it to my patients.”
One key advantage of PRP therapy is that it is minimally invasive and low-risk. Since it uses the patient’s own blood and follows standard medical procedures, it faces fewer regulatory challenges than other experimental treatments. Hopkins is now working to gain hospital board approval, which could make PRP therapy widely available in NHS clinics.
Signs of Progress and Cautious Optimism
For Kelly, the journey is still in progress. She will receive two additional PRP injections over the next three months as part of her treatment plan. Although she is cautiously optimistic, she has already begun to notice small improvements.
“I’ve trained myself to be extremely aware of any changes in my sense of smell,” she said. While certain strong scents, like onions, remain difficult for her, she has noticed improvements with coffee and subtle background scents in the environment.
One moment in particular stood out for her. “One morning, I walked outside, and something smelled good. Before I even turned around, I recognized it—it was the scent of winter-flowering jasmine. I hadn’t been able to detect that in years.”
If PRP therapy continues to show success, it could transform the lives of countless people suffering from anosmia. Many patients who have lost their sense of smell struggle with depression, anxiety, and a diminished quality of life. The ability to detect scents again would not only bring back sensory pleasure but also restore an essential connection to the world around them.
The medical community remains hopeful about PRP’s potential. As more research is conducted and clinical trials expand, PRP therapy could become a standard treatment for anosmia. With further approval, it might soon be available to patients across the UK and beyond.
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