More and more middle-aged and elderly people, and even teenagers, are experiencing a loss of taste.
Regarding this, oral health experts point out that the atrophy of taste buds in the elderly is a natural phenomenon. After the age of 45 for women and 55 for men, about two-thirds of taste buds begin to atrophy. Moreover, as age increases, the sense of taste continues to diminish. This is the real reason why many elderly people "cannot taste their food." In addition to the normal decline in taste function in the elderly, a "dull taste" often hides signals of various diseases. Some oral diseases, such as oral lichen planus or oral ulcers, not only affect eating but can also interfere with a person's sense of taste.
Related research confirms that a significant number of early-stage cancer patients experience a diminished sense of taste. About one-quarter of late-stage cancer patients experience sudden weight loss, which is related to abnormal taste, as taste abnormalities can lead to loss of appetite. The study also found that among patients with diabetes, thyroid tumors, and glaucoma, the number of "taste blind" individuals is many times higher than in normal people.
Furthermore, a loss of taste can also occur in the early or resolving stages of inflammation in the body. This is especially true for digestive tract diseases, such as peptic ulcers, which are often accompanied by an inability to taste. Patients with endocrine diseases, chronic febrile diseases, malnutrition, deficiencies in vitamins and trace elements like zinc, and insufficient intake of protein and calories also often experience a loss of taste.