Taste function could predict mortality risk

A loss of taste perception in early to middle adulthood could signal a higher risk of early mortality.

In a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, investigators used data from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the association between perceived taste loss in early and middle-to-late adulthood and the risk of mortality among nearly 7,500 U.S. adults aged 40 years and older.

The investigators discovered that the participants who self-reported perceived declines in the perception of tastes such as salt, sourness, sweetness and bitterness faced a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with those who didn’t report a drop in taste function. Notably, the strongest correlation with a greater risk of mortality was the diminished perception of the ability to taste salt and sourness.

The findings suggested that perceived taste loss could serve as a valuable indicator of mortality risk in clinical and public health settings.

Read more: JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

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