Smell Deficits Linked to Increased Mortality Risk in Older Adults

The risk comes particularly from neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases.

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A diminished sense of smell may be more than an inconvenience for seniors; it may be a warning sign of increased mortality risk.

A new study monitoring more than 2,500 older adults found those with smell impairment faced a 68 percent increased risk of death within a six-year period, with neurodegenerative and respiratory conditions among the leading causes of death.