An optical smoke detection unit, e.g., for a smoke detector, may include first and second light-emitting diodesfor emitting monochromatic, dichromatic or polychromatic light, an optical receiver for smoke detection, and a control unit that controls the light-emitting diodes and evaluates a receive signal output by the optical receiver for fire parameters. The light-emitting diodes may be optically coupled together such that at least one of the light-emitting diodes illuminates the other. The control unit may control one light-emitting diode in an alternating fashion and switch the other light-emitting diode to operate as a photodiode, and simultaneously detect a photoelectric current as a measure of emitted luminous flux of the controlled light-emitting diode. The control unit may deduce and output aging information from the light-emitting diode based on the reduction in the photoelectric current and/or alter the control of the light-emitting diode to correct a corresponding reduction in emitted luminous flux.