Do we lose our sense of taste as we get older?

In general, sensitivity to taste gradually decreases with age. However, there are some whose taste remains unaffected by aging.

The ability to taste food and beverages means a lot to seniors. Let’s face it; we lose a lot of the pleasures of our youth, but eating well isn’t usually one of them.

Taste also has a significant impact on our physical and mental health. Our sense of taste is especially important if we have to stay on a diet. If food loses its appeal, we may eat improperly and put ourselves at risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Loss of taste can lead us to overeat, undereat, or add too much salt or sugar to our food.

While taste is important, we recognize flavors primarily through our sense of smell. Try holding your nose while eating. Smell and taste are closely linked in the brain. It is common for people who lose their sense of smell to say that food has lost its taste. This is incorrect; the food has lost its aroma, but the taste remains. Loss of taste occurs less frequently than loss of smell in older people.

When an older person has a problem with taste, it is often temporary and minor. True taste disorders are uncommon. When a problem with taste exists, it is usually caused by medications, disease or injury.

In some cases, loss of taste can accompany or signal a more serious condition, such as diabetes or certain degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis.

There are several types of taste disorders.

You can have a persistent bad taste in the mouth. This is called a dysgeusia. Some people experience hypogeusia, which is a reduced ability to taste. Others can’t detect taste at all, which is called ageusia. People with taste disorders experience a specific type of ageusia, affecting one or more of the five primary taste categories: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savory.

The most common complaint is “phantom taste perception,” which is the perception of tasting something that isn’t there.

If you think you have a taste disorder, see your doctor. Diagnosis of a taste disorder is important because once the cause is found, your doctor may be able to treat your taste disorder. Many types of taste disorders are reversible, but if not, counseling and self-help techniques may help you cope.

If you cannot regain your sense of taste, there are things you can do to ensure your safety. Take extra care to avoid food that may have spoiled. If you live with other people, ask them to smell and taste the food to see if it is fresh. People who live alone should discard food if there is a chance it is spoiled.

Fred Cicetti is a freelance writer who specializes in health. He has been writing professionally since 1963. Before he began freelancing, he was a reporter and columnist for three daily newspapers in New Jersey. If you would like to ask a question, write to fred@healthygeezer.com.