I lost my sense of smell a couple of years ago at the age 52. I realized I was not smelling what other people were smelling. At first it seemed like I smelled a lot of burning or cooking smells even when nothing was cooking and that smell would be stuck in my head. Now I basically smell nothing. Every now and then I seem to get a small whiff of something like bananas or coffee. I am concerned it might mean I am getting Alzheimer's. The only possible reason I can think of for the loss of smell is a very bad head cold I had a few years back. Could it be possible?

i am 38 and had polyps surgically removed from my sinuses about 2yrs back. I had trouble smelling prior to that, but now I can only rarely smell onions, and some times lavender (of all things?). I have a 2yr old and for some reason can "detect" the odor of poopy diapers, although it doesn't actually smell like poopy diapers to me.
My E.N.T doctor told me that my sense of smell should return after the surgery. Now 2years later, he told me, "I don't really understand the sense of smell."
Of all things I miss the smell of my wife's perfume and it is really difficult at some times. Are there any treatments at all? I get mixed messages from on-line resources.

Natural gas detectors would be an added advantage for people who can't smell. After being in a house that was so full of gas I could have blown up the whole neighborhood, I called the gas company and explained my inability to smell and inquired about any type of detector that would help to prevent this from happening again in the future. They told me that the only meters they have are the ones the man uses when he comes to the house and they cost about $2000 each. I have a constant fear now that my house will blow up. I think they should consider this a disability and make these detectors available to those of us that can't smell.

For what it's worth: I work for a county hazardous waste recycling facility for two years now and am exposed to a fair amount of solvent vapors from oil-based paint, paint thinner gasoline, ect. (It wasn't my first choice of jobs) Anyhow, after about 12 months I lost 100% of my sense of smell. Thinking of infection, my doctor put me on antibiotics (that I had to quit after 6 days due to side effects). During that time I had a slight improvement of smell but after I quit the drugs, I lost it again. A month ago, for no apparent reason, my smell returned for about 6 hours and then mostly disappeared. About 25% smell remains. I went to an ENT who said he could find no reason for all this. Said except for some nasal congestion (hayfever), I appeared to be healthy. He did say that not much research has been done regarding loss of smell, but that based on that which was done, if the smell sense doesn't return in about a year, chances are it never will. I've been dealing with this whole thing for almost 10 months now. I guess 25% is better than none.