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Gustatory function and cognitive impairment in the Korean elderly
Young Goh1, Jung-Ho Yang2, Sun-Seog Kweon2
1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Keimyung University, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, South Korea.
Physiology & Behavior
|August 3, 2025
Summary
Cognitive impairment in elderly Koreans was studied for taste changes. While overall taste dysfunction wasn't linked to cognitive decline, dementia patients showed reduced sour taste sensitivity, suggesting a potential screening marker.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Chemosensory decline is common in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Research on the link between taste sensitivity and cognitive impairment is limited.
- Understanding gustatory function changes in cognitive decline is crucial for early detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cognitive impairment and gustatory dysfunction in elderly Koreans.
- To determine if specific taste sensitivities are altered in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 310 elderly Koreans from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study - Cardiovascular Disease Association Study.
- Assessed cognitive function using the Korean version of the mini-mental state examination-second edition.
- Evaluated gustatory function using five tastants (sweet, bitter, salty, sour, umami) via the whole-mouth technique.
Main Results:
- 44 participants (14.2%) had MCI, and 29 (9.4%) had dementia.
- No significant association was found between overall gustatory dysfunction and cognitive impairment.
- Dementia patients exhibited significantly lower sour taste detection sensitivity compared to normal cognition and MCI groups.
Conclusions:
- Overall gustatory dysfunction is not significantly associated with cognitive impairment in this cohort.
- Reduced sour taste sensitivity may be a potential indicator for dementia.
- Further research is warranted to explore the utility of sour taste sensitivity as a screening marker for cognitive decline.
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