End of life Odor loss in middle age is an indication of timely death

Physicians are studying the effects of odor loss on life expectancy
Does the loss of our sense of smell affect our life expectancy? Researchers have now found that when people lose their sense of smell in middle or old age, this indicates an early death.

The scientists from Stockholm University found in an investigation that the loss of the sense of smell can indicate an early death. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society".

When middle-aged or older people lose their sense of smell, it can indicate a premature death. So far, the loss of the sense of smell has always been associated only with an increased risk of Alzheimer's. (Photo: Halfpoint / fotolia.com)

Reduced sense of smell may indicate premature death
Although previous research has already shown a link between Alzheimer's disease and a diminished sense of smell, it has now been proven for the first time that this effect also affects the likelihood of dying prematurely, the authors explain

Scientists are studying 1,774 subjects for their study
For their study, the scientists from the Stockholm University monitored 1,774 Swedish subjects between the ages of 40 and 90 years for a period of ten years. At the beginning of the study, participants were asked to take part in a test where they had to identify 13 different smells. The researchers found in their study that the likelihood of premature death was related to how well they performed in the test. Any false response led to an eight percent increase in the risk of dying during the trial, experts say. The results of the study showed that the sense of smell is an important indicator of the health of the aging human brain. During the investigation, a total of 411 of the participants died.

The loss of the odor functions is associated with a 19 percent increased risk of death
Our findings were not explained by dementia, say the scientists. This disease has often been associated with odor loss before. Instead, risk of mortality due to odor loss was clearly predicted, the author explains. Jonas Olofsson. After considering the demographic, health and brain function, the physicians found that losing the sense of smell in those affected leads to a 19 percent higher risk of early death compared to normal smelling people.

Sense of smell and connections with Alzheimer's
A previous study from the University of Florida has already established that diagnosing Alzheimer's is made possible by doctors testing how close a subject must be to a peanut to smell it. If such people had to hold the nut at least six inches or closer to the left nostril than was needed in the right nostril, it was linked to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. A study from Harvard University has previously shown that people with Alzheimer's have trouble identifying ten completely normal smells. These smells included, for example, lemon, mint and strawberry.

Temporary loss of the sense of smell should not lead to panic
In our future research, we will try to identify the biological processes that could explain this phenomenon, explain the experts. The findings found that the evaluation of the odor function could provide insights into the aging processes of the brain. However, when people temporarily lose their sense of smell, they should not panic immediately. The condition can also be the result of other conditions such as sinusitis, the researchers add. (As)