Liu B, et al. - In this study involving 2,289 elderly adults, researchers assessed poor olfaction in relation to mortality in this population, and examined potential explanations. A total of 1,211 participants died by year 13 during follow-up. Participants with poor olfaction had a 46% higher cumulative risk for death at year 10 and a 30% higher risk at year 13 vs those with good olfaction. Similar associations were observed among both sexes and among white and black individuals. The association, however, was more clearly evident among participants who, at baseline, reported good or excellent health. Overall, the authors concluded that poor olfaction was linked to higher long-term mortality among elderly adults, especially those with excellent to good health at baseline. Neurodegenerative diseases and weight loss only partially explained the increased mortality.