Adams DR, et al. - The relationship between olfactory dysfunction and subsequent diagnosis of dementia was examined in this longitudinal study. For the first time in a nationally representative sample, the authors demonstrated that home-dwelling older adults with normal cognition and difficulty in identifying odors faced higher odds of being diagnosed with dementia 5 years later, independent of other significant risk factors. This validated five-item odor identification test was an efficient, low-cost component of the physical examination that could give useful information while assessing individuals’ risk of dementia. To reduce the attendant morbidity and public health burden of dementia, use of such testing could provide an opportunity for early interventions.