Anosmia: Loss of Smell in the Elderly

More than 35 million people in the United States are aged 65 years or older. Of people aged more than 80 years, 62% to 80% have a significant reduction in their sense of smell, which can adversely affect their safety and nutritional status. This article reviews the anatomy of smell and discusses the known and theorized etiologies of smell loss in the elderly population.