The Body Knows When Death is Near, and It Begins in Your Nose

Why This Matters

The sense of smell is often overlooked compared with sight or hearing, but it may tell us more about health than we once thought.

If researchers continue to understand how smell changes before illness or during the final stage of life, doctors may one day use that information as part of early screening and care. Smell-based testing could potentially help identify people at higher risk and lead to earlier treatment or support.

In that sense, the nose may not predict death in a mystical way, but it may still reveal important information about the body’s condition.