Sniffing out the risk of death

A new study finds that a poor sense of smell is linked with a higher risk of death. We’ve known that our ability to smell diminishes with age, and that a poor sense of smell could be an early sign of dementia. Looking at data from nearly 2,300 older adults who were asked to take a smell test, those who got a score of 8 or lower on a 12-odor smell test had a 46% higher risk of mortality at 10 years after the test and a 30% higher risk at year 13 than those whose sense of smell seemed intact. The scientists also found that these higher mortality rates were associated with other conditions, including dementia and weight loss, but only partially explained the higher rates of death. The results only show an association between smell and mortality risk, and more research is needed to better understand the link.