Perceived Taste Loss From Early Adulthood to Mid to Late Adulthood and Mortality

Evidence on the associations of taste function changes from early adulthood to mid to late adulthood with all-cause mortality is limited.

To investigate the associations between subjective perception of taste loss from early adulthood to mid to late adulthood and all-cause mortality.

This population-based cohort study used data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014) and linked mortality information from the National Death Index (NDI) and included adults aged 40 years and older. Data analyses were conducted between May 6, 2024, and July 22, 2024.

Subjective decline in taste function and ability to detect basic tastes (ie, salt, sourness, sweetness, or bitterness) since the age of 25 years.

All-cause mortality was ascertained via linkage to the NDI with follow-up until December 31, 2019.

Among 7340 participants (52.8% female), 662 (weighted, 8.9%) reported subjective perception of taste loss from early adulthood to mid to late adulthood. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 6.67 (5.67-7.83) years, 1011 deaths occurred. Subjective perception of taste loss was associated with a 47% higher risk of mortality (multiadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% CI, 1.06-2.03). Specifically, self-reported loss in ability to taste salt (multivariable adjusted HR [aHR], 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21-2.26) and sourness (aHR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.19-2.40) was associated with increased mortality. Self-reported decline in ability to taste bitterness was associated with increased mortality only in female participants (aHR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.05-2.53), whereas decline in ability to taste sourness was associated with increased mortality only in male participants (aHR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.03-2.75). Moreover, among all and female participants without perceived smell function loss, those with perceived taste function loss still had increased mortality (all participants: aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.12-2.40; female participants: aHR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.14-2.56; male participants: aHR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.80-2.59).

In this population-based cohort study, subjective perception of taste loss from early adulthood to mid to late adulthood, particularly perception of salt and sourness, was associated with increased all-cause mortality. The mortality risk associated with perceived taste loss could not be mitigated by undeteriorated smell function. 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.