Decrease in or Loss of Taste
Decrease in or loss of taste is common in older adults. It is part of the normal aging process and may be caused by:
- A decrease in the number of taste buds.
- Changes in the way the nervous system processes the sensation of taste. This may cause a decline in the awareness of taste.
- A decrease in the amount of saliva or an increase in the stickiness of saliva.
- Changes in the tongue, making it harder for flavors to reach the taste buds.
Other factors that may cause a decrease or loss of taste include:
6 Things Your Doctor May Have Trouble Telling You
Patients often have trouble talking to their doctors. It can be hard to get the words out when the topic is emotionally charged or one you’d never bring up in polite conversation. And for various reasons, sometimes including their own embarrassment, doctors may find it hard to bring up certain topics -- and that can compromise the care their patients receive. “Communication is an inexact science,” says Bob Arnold, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and...
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- Loss of smell. Much of what is thought of as taste is actually smell.
- Minor infections, such as a cold or flu.
- Smoking or using smokeless (spit) tobacco.
- Side effects of medicine, surgery, or radiation therapy.
- Nutritional deficiencies of zinc or vitamin B12.
- Diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Bell's palsy, hepatitis, Sjögren's syndrome, and oral cancer.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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