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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Odor identification and mortality in old age.

Robert S Wilson¹, Lei Yu, David A Bennett

¹Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina Avenue, Suite 1038, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rwilson@rush.edu

Chemical Senses

|October 7, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Older adults with impaired smell have a higher risk of death. Identifying familiar odors is linked to longevity, highlighting the importance of olfactory function in aging.

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Published on: August 25, 2014

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Neuroscience
Public Health

Background:

Olfactory dysfunction is a common sensory deficit in older adults.
Previous research suggests potential links between sensory impairments and health outcomes.
The specific association between olfactory dysfunction and all-cause mortality in non-demented, non-Parkinsonian elderly individuals requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the association between olfactory dysfunction and mortality risk in older adults.
To determine if the ability to identify odors predicts the risk of death in this population.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 1162 older individuals without dementia or Parkinson's disease was studied.
Participants completed a 12-item odor identification test.
Follow-up averaged 4.2 years, during which mortality events were recorded and analyzed using proportional hazards models, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

A total of 321 deaths (27.6%) occurred during the follow-up period.
Each additional correctly identified odor was associated with a 6% decrease in mortality risk (Hazard Ratio = 0.94).
Individuals with low odor identification scores (10th percentile) had approximately 36% higher mortality risk compared to those with high scores (90th percentile).

Conclusions:

Difficulty in identifying familiar odors in old age is significantly associated with an increased risk of death.
Olfactory function may serve as a potential biomarker for mortality risk in older adults.
These findings underscore the importance of olfactory health in the context of aging and overall survival.