Bardet-Biedl syndrome impairs sense of smell

In 2003, researchers in an international team discovered that proteins involved in the complex disorder known as Bardet-Biedl syndrome were found in and near cilia. The nose and olfactory system have many cilia, so recently the researchers decided to look at the ability of individuals with Bardet-Biedl to detect odors. When administered a simple, standard smell test, 40% of individuals with the syndrome couldn't smell anything, and another 10% had a diminished sense of smell. The research was published in the August 22, 2004, edition of Nature Genetics.