Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold (TDT) Test
Published on: April 21, 2021
Effects of age, gender and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on taste acuity
Laura Wardwell1, Karen Chapman-Novakofski, M Susan Brewer
1Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Primary Objective:
Multifactoral interactions of age, gender and medical conditions were investigated because of lack of definitive results in previous studies.
Methods:
Absolute detection and recognition were determined thresholds using a three-alternative forced-choice test by younger men (n=50) and women (n=48); and by older men (n=43) and women (n=46) for each of the four basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty). Data from 46 elderly men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included.
Results:
Age was consistently associated with elevated recognition thresholds for each of the four tastants for men only. Gender differences were seen for absolute sweet thresholds and for sour, bitter, and sweet recognition thresholds for older participants. Men with COPD had the highest levels for absolute and recognition thresholds for each tastant.
Conclusions:
Gender plays a role in taste perception. COPD diminishes taste.
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