Decreased ability to identify odors may predict 5-year mortality. Better at predicting than diagnosis of heart failure, cancer or lung disease.

FTA:

The inability of older adults to identify scents is a strong predictor of death within five years. Almost 40% of those who failed a smelling test died during that period, compared to 10% of those with a healthy sense of smell. Olfactory dysfunction predicted mortality better than a diagnosis of heart failure or cancer.