Seniors slowly lose their sense of taste and smell, affecting how much they eat and what kind of food they choose. As you age, your body goes through changes that are triggered by both the aging process and those changes in nutrition, sleep and exercise that affect your body at the cellular level. These differences impact the sensory system of the body, and may result in you not taking in enough of the right nutrients.
Changes in Smell
The deterioration of the sense of smell can have several etiologies, according to author J. M. Boyce in the "Postgraduate Medical Journal" in 2006. The decline in ability to smell and differentiate smells can be related to a decrease in the number of nerve fibers in the olfactory system. Even when you do not have an illness or disease that affects this system, age can trigger a decrease in the effectiveness of the nerve cells. A reduced number of cells and reduction in sensitivity of those remaining cells, results in a change in the ability of the individual to interpret scent.
Changes in Taste
A loss of taste does not happen dramatically when it is associated with aging, according to Medicine Encyclopedia. Instead, it begins around middle age and continues to decline through the remainder of life. Loss of taste or changes in taste are often localized to one area of the tongue and not generalized to the whole tongue. Your tongue has approximately 9,000 taste buds that are responsible for differentiating sour, sweet, salty and bitter tastes, according to MedlinePlus. That number of taste buds begins to decrease beginning at age 40 in women and 50 in men. Sensitivity doesn't begin to decrease until after age 60. As you age, and produce less saliva, the dry mouth can also affect the sense of taste. Changes in the function of taste can also result from prior upper respiratory infections, head injuries, drug use and other idiopathic causes more common in the elderly, such as tooth loss and dentures.
Implications
As you age, the implications of a decreased sensation of taste and smell will impact your nutritional intake and your overall health. Smell and taste disorders are often overlooked because they are not considered critical. However, decreased smell and taste often result in appetite depression leading to weight loss, malnutrition and deterioration in other medical conditions, according to "The Postgraduate Medical Journal." The elderly more commonly lose their sense of salty taste, leading to a decreased discrimination of food that is high in salt. This increased tendency toward salt and sugar can aggravate other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. A reduced ability to recognize taste foods can result in an inability to recognize spoiled food, leading to food poisoning, nausea, vomiting or infectious diarrhea, according to The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. The elderly also experience diminished taste of their favorite foods or beverages and an inability to smell food can also lead to decreased nutritional intake and malnutrition.
Recommendations
Recommendations from Colorado State University Extension Program include trying a variety of new food flavors and experimenting with lower sodium seasonings such as herbs, lemon juice, dill and curry. Try changing both flavors and textures of foods in order to reduce the blandness of the diet. Work with a dietitian to develop food lists that are appetizing to you and have consistent visits with your primary care physician to ensure you are not losing weight.
References
- Post Graduate Medical Journal; "Effects of Aging on Smell and Taste"; JM Boyce, GR Shone; 2006
- Medical Encyclopedia: Taste and Smell -- Diet and Nutrition
- MedlinePlus: Aging Changes in the Senses
- Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing: Sensory Changes
- Colorado State University: Nutrition and Aging
