June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about brain health, early detection, and the many ways our bodies may signal changes long before we fully understand what they mean.

One signal that deserves more attention is our sense of smell.

Research continues to show that changes in smell function can be associated with neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Smell loss does not mean someone has Alzheimer’s, and smell testing is not a stand-alone diagnostic tool. But it can be an important, low-cost way to document changes over time, start a conversation with a healthcare provider, and help people better understand their overall health.

That is why this petition still matters!

When I first lost my sense of smell, I had no baseline. No routine test. No clear way for my doctors to measure what had changed. Years later, STANA continues to advocate for a future where smell and taste testing are treated more like vision and hearing testing: accessible, affordable, and part of routine care across the lifespan.

During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, we are reminded that early recognition matters. People deserve tools that help them understand changes in their bodies sooner, not years later. Smell and taste testing should be part of that conversation.

If you have already signed this petition, thank you. Your support helps us continue pushing for awareness, research, and policy change. Please consider sharing this petition again with someone who cares about brain health, aging, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, long COVID, traumatic brain injury, or smell and taste disorders.

Together, we can help build a healthcare system where smell and taste are no longer overlooked.

Please share this petition and help us keep the momentum going.

Best,

Katie Boateng

STANA President, Acquired Anosmic