Changes in Taste: A Fact Sheet on Aging

Taste Changes:

Taste buds decline with age – flavor identification
Taste buds decline to 1/6 of 20 year old by late 70’s
Gum disease – poor teeth; periodontal disease reduce appetite

graphic of tongue showing taste loss order: sweet, salty, bitter sour

Taste difficulties may produce these behaviors:

Loss/increased appetite – stop because no taste; increase to achieve some taste; weight gain/loss
Statements about food – complaints about bitter or sour flavors
Questions – mistaken identity of foods
Tongue coating
Excessive seasoning – increase sugar and salt

Actions you may take:

Attractive food presentation increases person’s willingness to eat
Separate food rather than mixing food on plate
Vary texture
Good dental care
Taste parties – to teach using vision and smell to identify foods; to increase social enjoyment associated with food

Adapted from Sensitizing People to the Processes of Aging: The In-Service Educator’s Guide by Marvin Ernst and Herbert Shore, Dallas Geriatric Research Institute, 1977. Distributed by: Judith L. Warren, Ph.D., Extension Program Leader and Professor and Extension Gerontology Specialist, Family Development and Resource Management, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. 1995.

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Last updated: 16 September, 2009

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.