title: Factors related to taste sensitivity in elderly: cross-sectional findings from SONIC study.
abstract: The sense of taste is important, as it allows for assessment of nutritional value, as well as safety and quality of foods, with several factors suggested to be associated with taste sensitivity. However, comprehensive variables regarding taste and related factors have not been utilised in previous studies for assessments of sensitivity. In the present study, we performed cross-sectional analyses of taste sensitivity and related factors in geriatric individuals who participated in the SONIC Study. We analysed 2 groups divided by age, 69-71 years (young-old, n = 687) and 79-81 years (old-old, n = 621), and performed a general health assessment, an oral examination and determination of taste sensitivity. Contributing variables were selected by univariate analysis and then subjected to multivariate logistic regression analysis. In both groups, females showed significantly better sensitivity for bitter and sour tastes. Additionally, higher cognitive scores for subjects with a fine taste for salty were commonly seen in both groups, while smoking, drinking, hypertension, number of teeth, stimulated salivary flow salt intake and years of education were also shown to be associated with taste sensitivity. We found gender and cognitive status to be major factors affecting taste sensitivity in geriatric individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uota
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikebe
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamide
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Thanatology and Geriatric Behavioral Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Human Sciences, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masui
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003778:Dentures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cognitive function; cross-sectional study; elderly population; multivariate analysis; taste sensitivity