The study found that most people who could correctly identify scents had a normal sense of smell. Some participants who could identify a few scents had a moderate loss of smell. A small percentage of those who had difficulty identifying scents had a significant loss of smell. After five years, 39% of the adults who had passed away had experienced a noticeable decrease in their sense of smell. This indicates a connection between problems with smelling and death.
Although a damaged sense of smell does not directly lead to death, scientists believe that a reduced sense of smell could suggest a decrease in the body's capacity to repair important parts, possibly leading to death from other reasons. The research indicates that problems with the sense of smell could be a sign of slower cell renewal or the long-term impact of being exposed to the environment.