taste

Decreased taste sensation is a common complaint of older individuals. This is usually due to the loss of taste buds in the tongue, a natural aging process. It may be related to smoking. Taste sensitivity to sweet, sour, and bitter is lost before the sensitivity to salt. A reduced saliva flow may cause difficulty swallowing. It may be beneficial for the person to season food more and sip a drink as he or she eats.
Steinberg, F. U. Care of the Geriatric Patient, 6th ed. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby Co., 1983.

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