If you’re no longer able to taste that sour candy or those salty French fries, you may be at a higher risk of an early death.

A new study analyzing more than 7,000 Americans over the age of 40 who lost their sense of taste earlier in life had a 47 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than people who retained their full ability to taste.

And results showed women were more at risk than men. Women who reported a loss of taste in early- or mid-life were 56 percent more likely to die early than those who reported no change.

Among men, those with a change in their taste were at a 34 percent higher risk of early death.

While the study did not specify an age considered to be a premature death, the average life expectancy in America is 77 years.

The researchers found those experiencing an increasing decline in salty and sour tastes were at greatest risk, with about a 50 percent higher risk overall.

The paper said the loss of taste itself was not causing death — but it could be a warning sign of a serious underlying condition that could lead to an earlier death.

Previous studies have linked an impaired sense of taste – experienced by about 20 percent of people 40 and older – to being an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease and heat conditions such as high blood pressure, which are both known to limit life.

Writing in the paper, the researchers said: ‘These findings suggest that subjective perception of taste loss may serve as a simple and valuable indicator for screening high-risk populations in clinic and public health practice.’

In humans, the sense of taste is one of the five basic senses and allows people to interpret the world around them.

It is controlled by chemical reactions with taste receptors on the tongue, and also by responses to food from cells in the nose or smell system.

There are five primary tastes that humans experience: Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory.

Factors such as a cold or flu, sinus infections, allergies, head injuries, hormonal changes, smoking and nutritional deficiencies such as zinc and Vitamin B12 can affect taste buds.

Almost one in five – about 19 percent – of Americans over the age of 40 has reported some alteration in their sense of taste.