BEING unable to distinguish between scents may foretell an early death. Researchers at Michigan State University in the U. analysed data from ‘smell tests’ on more than 2,000 people aged 71 to 82.
Compared with those who were best at identifying the scents, those who scored poorly were 46 per cent more likely to have died 10 years later from any cause, but especially from issues related to Parkinson’s disease or dementia.
The study researchers suggested that smell identification tests should be conducted as part of doctors’ regular check-ups in later life.
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