A person who is losing their ability to smell may be doing so because of an increased risk for death, a new study claims.

Research indicates that a declining sense of smell may serve as a predictor for a decreased lifespan. More specifically, the reduced sense of smell seems to correspond with an increased risk of death within the next five years.

By studying 3,000 elderly participants, researchers were able to determine that those who were unable to pick up on certain smells, such as leather, oranges, peppermint or flowers, were three times more likely to die within the next few years than those who could detect these scents easily.

Participants were surveyed to establish an understanding of how well their noses were performing. During the next five years, follow ups found that 39 percent of those with the poorest sense of smell died within the follow up period. In comparison, 19 percent of people with moderately intact smell responses died during the same time and only 10 percent of those with the highest performing noses passed away.

The exact cause of this connection is not known, but the deteriorating sense of smell appears to be a better predictor of death than a history of severe illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or cancer. Experts think it may have to do with the body’s loss of ability to regenerate cells.

Despite the results from this study, researchers caution against panicking should a loss of smell sensitivity occur. There are several reasons that smell could be diminished, including sinus related problems like allergies and colds. However, should the problem persist, it is recommended that people consult their doctors to see if it is indicative of a bigger health issue.