Study on the Factors Affecting the Taste Function in the Elderly

• Hanai Masayuki

  Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry

• Tamazawa Yoshinori

  Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry

• Takafuji Michio

  Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry

• Kikuchi Masahiko

  Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry

• Watanabe Makoto

  Division of Aging and Geriatric Dentistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 高齢者の味覚機能に及ぼす要因に関する研究

Abstract

A questionnaire survey and examinations of the taste function were conducted in order to investigate how systemic and local conditions and life habits as well as sensitivity to four basic tastes are related to the decline of the taste function in the elderly. The questionnaire survey consisted of questions regarding subjects' sensations about the taste function and physical and mental status, their medications and the state of the oral cavity. There were a total of 185 subjects, 117 older and 165 younger. In the examinations of the taste function, measurement of saliva secretion, determination of tastes threshold with a whole mouth method and electric gustometry were performed on 45 older and 30 young subjects.<BR>Dry mouth, abnormal oral mucosa and complaints about the dentures were indicated as factors related to subjective sensation of dysgeusia from the questionnaire survey. From the examinations of taste function, however, the increase of taste threshold was not observed in the subjects with dry mouth or abnormal oral mucosa. On the contrary, subjects taking medications or having systemic diseases which showed little association with the sensation of dysgeusia had high taste thresholds. Furthermore, subjects who reported the sensation of dysgeusia did not necessarily have a declining taste function.<BR>It is concluded that not only the taste function affected by medications or systemic diseases but also the effect of the unpleasant conditions of the oral cavity on taste sensation should be carefully examined in elderly people who complain of a declining of taste function.

Journal

• Ronen Shika Igaku

  Ronen Shika Igaku 19 (2), 94-103, 2004

  Japanese Society of Gerodontology

Keywords

• elderly
• taste function
• questionnaire survey
• tastes threshold
• electric gustometry

Details

• CRID: 1390282679309163520
• NII Article ID: 10013599690
• NII Article ID: 130004300844
• NII Book ID: AN10023520
• DOI: 10.11259/jsg1987.19.94
• ISSN: 18847323
• ISSN: 09143866
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2005028663
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed