Decreased ability to identify odors can predict death: Olfactory dysfunction is a harbinger of mortality
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - 23:01
in Health & Medicine
The inability of older adults to identify scents is a strong predictor of death within five years. Almost 40% of those who failed a smelling test died during that period, compared to 10% of those with a healthy sense of smell. Olfactory dysfunction predicted mortality better than a diagnosis of heart failure or cancer.