title: Predictors of taste acuity in healthy older Europeans.
abstract: This study aimed to identify factors associated with taste acuity in healthy older European adults aged 55-87 years, employing a factorial independent design to recruit older adults from centres in France, Italy and United Kingdom. Adults aged 70-87 years (N=387) were recruited in Rome (Italy) (n=108) and Grenoble (France) (n=91) and aged 55-70 years in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) (n=93) and Clermont-Ferrand (C-F) (France) (n=95). A signal detection theory (SDT) approach was used for detection threshold assessment of the four basic tastes (salt; sweet; bitter; and, sour). Trial data were converted to R-indices. Diet was assessed by means of four day food diaries. Dietary data were converted using WISP and then reduced, using a principal components analysis, to four components: Component 1 'high fat and salt'; Component 2 'high vitamins and fibre'; Component 3 'high fat and carbohydrate'; and, Component 4 'high trace elements'. Socio-demographic information was collected by self report survey. Four separate regression analyses were carried out, one for each of the four basic taste qualities (sweet; sour; bitter; salt). Mean ROC scores for each taste quality were the response variables and age, sex, country, social class and dietary components were predictor variables. The main predictors of taste acuity were age, sex, social class and country, which had differential effects for each taste quality. These data suggest that socio-demographic and cultural factors should be taken into account when considering taste acuity in older people.
authors: School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, County Londonderry BT52 1SA, Ireland. EEA.Simpson@Ulster.ac.uk
authors: Ellen E A
authors: EE
authors: Simpson
authors: Gordon
authors: G
authors: Rae
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Parr
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: O'Connor
authors: Maxine
authors: M
authors: Bonham
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Polito
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Meunier
authors: Maud
authors: M
authors: Andriollo-Sanchez
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Intorre
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Coudray
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Strain
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Stewart-Knox
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012384:Rome; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D055697:Taste Perception; D013652:Taste Threshold; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People