Nasal trigeminal chemosensitivity across the adult life span.
Individuals can determine the side of the nose that receives an odorant during unilateral presentation (lateralize) if endings of the trigeminal nerve are stimulated. By using psychophysical methods, olfactory detection and trigeminal lateralization thresholds for 1-butanol were obtained from 142 individuals ranging in age from 20 to 89 year. Sensitivity in both chemosensory pathways declined with advancing age, especially in people older than 60 years.
Wysocki
Charles J
CJ
Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. wysocki@monell.org
Cowart
Beverly J
BJ
Radil
Tomas
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*