A new study finds that the ability to detect smells predicts recovery and long-term survival in patients who have suffered severe brain injuries.
In fact, a simple, inexpensive sniff test could help doctors accurately diagnose and determine treatment plans for patients with disorders of consciousness, according to researchers at the University of Cambridge in the UK.
The study involved brain-injured patients showing very minimal or no signs of awareness of the external world. It found that 100% of patients who reacted to the sniff test went on to regain consciousness.
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