Ep.79, The Hidden Connection Between Smell, Sleep & Neurodegeneration, Dr. Paule Valery Joseph

What if your sense of smell could predict brain health years before symptoms appear? In this fascinating episode of ASAP Pathway the Podcast, Dr. Stacy Becker sits down with neuroscientist and sensory science expert Dr. Paule Valery Joseph to explore the powerful — and often overlooked — role of smell, taste, and chemesthesis in human health.

From Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to sleep-disordered breathing, childhood mouth breathing, long COVID, and emotional memory, this conversation uncovers how deeply connected our olfactory system is to neurological health, cognition, metabolism, and quality of life. Dr. Joseph explains why smell loss may be one of the earliest warning signs of neurodegenerative disease, how COVID changed the medical conversation around smell and taste, and why clinicians should begin treating smell as a vital sign.

The discussion also dives into:

Mouth breathing and nasal disuse in childrenSleep apnea and olfactory dysfunctionSmell training and neuroplasticityThe emotional power of scent and memoryWhy dentists may be key players in early detectionThe hidden consequences of congenital anosmiaThis episode is a powerful reminder that the body does not function in silos — and that the nose may hold far more information about our health than we ever realized.

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