title: Evidence for different patterns of chemosensory alterations in the elderly population: impact of age versus dependency.
abstract: The present experiment aimed to explore the interindividual variability in chemosensory abilities among the elderly population. The chemosensory abilities of 559 subjects, aged from 65 to 99 years, were evaluated. Various categories of the elderly, including people who were living at home either without or with assistance, and people who were living in a nursing home, were interviewed. The results revealed that 43% of the sample presented well-preserved chemosensory abilities, whereas 21% of the participants presented a moderate impairment. Of the sample, 33% presented well-preserved olfactory abilities but strong impairment in gustatory abilities and 3% were nearly anosmic but remained able to perceive the salty taste, demonstrating that gustation and olfaction were not systematically damaged simultaneously. The results showed a link between the level of dependence (free living vs. living at home with help vs. nursing home) and chemosensory abilities, independently of the age effect. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the impairment of chemosensory abilities is not only an effect of age per se; rather, it is related to events that are associated with aging. Factors that lead to increased dependence (such as poor health) also lead to an impairment in chemosensory performance.
authors: CNRS, UMR6265 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, INRA, UMR1324 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, Université de Bourgogne, UMR Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Sulmont-Rossé
authors: LUNAM Université, Groupe ESA, UPSP GRAPPE, F-49000 Angers, France.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Maître
authors: LUNAM Université, ONIRIS, Unité de Sensométrie et Chimiométrie, F-44000 Nantes, France and.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Amand
authors: LUNAM Université, Groupe ESA, UPSP GRAPPE, F-49000 Angers, France.
authors: Ronan
authors: R
authors: Symoneaux
authors: CHU, Unité de Recherche Service de médecine gériatrique, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Van Wymelbeke
authors: CNRS, UMR6265 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, INRA, UMR1324 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, Université de Bourgogne, UMR Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors: Elodie
authors: E
authors: Caumon
authors: LUNAM Université, Groupe ESA, UPSP GRAPPE, F-49000 Angers, France.
authors: Jérémy
authors: J
authors: Tavarès
authors: CNRS, UMR6265 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, INRA, UMR1324 Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France, Université de Bourgogne, UMR Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, F-21000 Dijon, France.
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Issanchou
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: aging; nursing home; odor; perception; segmentation; taste