The role of the sense of smell in early psychosis – a new path to early detection?

In this project, the researchers will use the sense of smell to explore a new way of improving early diagnosis of psychotic disorders. Research shows that reduced sense of smell is common in psychosis and that the brain regions involved in olfaction are among the first to be affected in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often begin during adolescence, a period when the brain undergoes major developmental changes, and early intervention can have significant benefits. However, because symptoms frequently overlap, it is difficult to determine at an early stage which specific disorder an individual is developing, leading to delayed or incorrect treatment.

The researchers will investigate whether abnormalities in brain regions responsible for processing smell can be used as early biological markers to identify young people at heightened risk. By combining advanced brain imaging, genetic information, and machine learning, they aim to develop a model that distinguishes between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and predicts which young people with early psychotic symptoms are at greatest risk of developing a severe psychotic disorder.

The project uses extensive databases containing brain imaging, genetic, and clinical data from thousands of individuals.

The project consists of five parts that together examine how olfactory-related brain structures differ in psychosis, link these differences to genetic risk factors, identify young people at risk, and build a personalized model for early risk assessment.

By uncovering disorder-specific patterns in the brain and their genetic foundations, the researchers hope to improve diagnostic accuracy and enable targeted, preventive interventions. The goal is to bridge the gap between neuroscience research and clinical care.

By understanding how the olfactory system is affected in psychosis, this project may pave the way for more individualized diagnosis and treatment, ultimately improving quality of life for young people at risk for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.