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Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold (TDT) Test
Published on: April 21, 2021
Taste loss in the elderly: epidemiology, causes and consequences
Alessandra Imoscopi1, Emine Meral Inelmen, Giuseppe Sergi
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Geriatric Division, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. alessandra2010@hotmail.com
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|July 26, 2012
Summary
Taste disorders are common in older adults, often linked to medications and nutritional deficiencies. Regular assessment of taste function is crucial for geriatric care to prevent health risks.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Taste disorders are prevalent in the elderly, impacting health and often overlooked.
- Age-related physiological changes can exacerbate taste decline.
- Declining taste acuity increases the risk of various diseases in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze existing literature on taste disorders in the elderly.
- To identify common causes and consequences of taste dysfunction in this population.
- To emphasize the importance of assessing gustatory function in geriatric care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review focusing on taste disorders in the elderly.
- Analysis of identified causes, including medication side effects, nutritional deficiencies, and diseases.
- Examination of the health consequences associated with taste loss.
Main Results:
- The primary causes of taste disorders in the elderly are drug use (21.7%), zinc deficiency (14.5%), and oral/systemic diseases.
- Polypharmacy in elderly patients with chronic conditions significantly increases the risk of taste impairment.
- Taste disorders can lead to malnutrition and other adverse health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Periodic review of pharmacological therapies is essential to prevent or manage taste disorders.
- Integrating gustatory function assessment into comprehensive geriatric evaluations is recommended.
- Addressing modifiable causes like medication and nutrition can mitigate taste disorder risks in the elderly.
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