Smell Identification Ability: Changes with Age

作者：Richard L. Doty, Paul Shaman, Steven L. Applebaum, Ronita Giberson, Lenore Siksorski, Lysa Rosenberg · 发表于：Science · 年份：1984 · DOI：10.1126/science.6505700 · 被引用次数：1341 · 研究领域：Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies、Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies、Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques

Smell identification ability was measured in 1955 persons ranging in age from 5 to 99 years. On the average, women outperformed men at all ages, and nonsmokers outperformed smokers. Peak performance occurred in the third through fifth decades and declined markedly after the seventh. More than half of those 65 to 80 years old evidenced major olfactory impairment. After 80 years, more than three-quarters evidenced major impairment. Given these findings, it is not surprising that many elderly persons complain that food lacks flavor and that the elderly account for a disproportionate number of accidental gas poisoning cases each year.