Researchers at the University of Chicago tested 2,906 men and women between the ages of 57 and 85 if they could detect scents such as peppermint, fish, orange, rose and leather. 22% of the participants could not detect four out of five scents.
Five years later the researchers found that the ones who could not detect at least four scents, were more than twice as likely to have dementia. The worse the performance on the smell test the higher the risk.
My advise is that if you are having a problem with differentiating different scents or having a problem with your ability to smell things, which by the way will interfere with your appetite for certain foods, check with an ENT physician.
by Dr. Earl Mindell