Taste thresholds: quality specific variation with human aging.
Detection thresholds for each of the four basic taste qualities were obtained from 81 adults between 23 and 88 years of age. Sodium chloride thresholds show a small but significant increase with age, confirming the only previous observations derived from procedures that control for age-related changes in response criterion and salivary sodium. Quinine sulfate thresholds display a similar but weaker relation to age. Sucrose and citric acid thresholds are not significantly related to age. Citric acid alone shows a sex effect. Detection thresholds for the four taste qualities undergo different changes with age.
Adult↗