Objective:

To systematically map the knowledge landscape of olfactory dysfunction (OD) mechanism research over the past decade by integrating bibliometric analysis with clinical trial evaluations, focusing on publication trends and clinical implications.

Key Findings:

• The USA is the most productive country in OD research, with significant contributions from the University of California System and author Thomas Hummel, highlighting the need for further exploration of these contributions.
• Research on OD mechanisms is shifting from macroscopic observations to precise molecular mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of understanding these shifts.
• Dysregulation of inflammatory pathways (NF-κB), cAMP signaling, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways are implicated in OD development, suggesting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Interpretation:

The study highlights the growing recognition of OD in neurodegenerative diseases and its potential as a clinical biomarker, emphasizing the need for mechanistic research to enhance early diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Limitations:

• Existing reviews often focus on individual subfields and may oversimplify mechanism explanations, which can hinder comprehensive understanding.
• Potential asymmetry in evidence for peripheral and central mechanisms could obscure connections between different pathological processes, complicating the translation of findings into clinical practice.

Conclusion:

This review integrates bibliometric trends with clinical trial evaluations to delineate a translational pipeline from mechanism exploration to clinical interventions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of OD and suggesting future research directions.