Poor olfaction may be more than a sensory deficit. A recent population-based cohort study by Keran W. Chamberlin and colleagues investigated 5,142 older adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and found that impaired smell function was associated with a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). Participants with poor olfactory performance, assessed using a 12-item odor identification test, had a significantly greater risk of incident CHD compared with those with good olfaction, particularly during the early years of follow-up. The association gradually weakened over time but remained evident in multiple analyses, suggesting that olfactory dysfunction may serve as an early marker of cardiovascular vulnerability rather than simply reflecting normal aging. The authors propose that impaired smell could capture underlying biological processes linked to cardiovascular health, including neurodegeneration, inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, or reduced overall physiological resilience. These findings reinforce the growing recognition of olfaction as a valuable indicator of systemic health and suggest that simple smell tests may one day contribute to cardiovascular risk assessment in older adults.

Reference: Chamberlin KW, Li C, Kucharska-Newton A, et al. Olfaction and Coronary Heart Disease. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery (2025), PMID: 41165715.