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Related Concept Videos

Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Gustation01:43

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption01:22

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As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
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Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
04:56

Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors

Published on: January 25, 2018

Gustatory and olfactory dysfunction in older adults: a national probability study.

S Boesveldt1, S T Lindau, M K McClintock

  • 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. sanne.boesveldt@wsur.nl

Rhinology
|August 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Severe taste and smell problems are common in older US adults. These chemosensory dysfunctions correlate with age, education, sex, BMI, and mental health, impacting daily life.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Sensory Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Olfactory and gustatory functions are not well characterized in older US adults.
  • Limited data exist on the relationship between chemosensory function and health in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize olfactory and gustatory functions in a large national probability sample of older adults.
  • To investigate the relationships between chemosensory function and sociodemographic, physical, and mental health characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a five-odour identification test to assess olfactory function.
  • Employed taste-impregnated filter paper strips (sweet, sour, bitter, salty) for gustatory function assessment.
  • Employed brief, validated tests for chemosensory function evaluation in a national probability sample.

Main Results:

  • Severe gustatory dysfunction was more prevalent than severe olfactory dysfunction.
  • Age, education, and sex were independently associated with both olfactory and gustatory identification performance.
  • Olfactory performance correlated positively with BMI and was negatively associated with depressive symptoms; food-related odours were identified better than non-food odours.

Conclusions:

  • A high prevalence of severe gustatory and olfactory dysfunction exists in a population-based sample of older adults.
  • Brief chemosensory tests can detect correlations between chemical senses and health measures outside clinical settings.
  • Findings highlight the importance of assessing sensory function in older adults for health monitoring.