Research
Adherence
Age-related declines in taste and smell acuity reduce dietary variety and palatability, which contributes to reduced energy intake and impaired energy regulation in older adults.
Enhance the flavor, smell, and variety of your meals. Since your senses may be duller, use spices, herbs, and diverse textures to make food appealing, which can help stimulate the cephalic phase of digestion and encourage adequate intake.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
There are well-documented age-associated declines in taste and smell sensitivity... If the losses in taste and smell associated with aging have an equivalent effect (i.e., making food seem more bland)... the anticipated decrease in gastric emptying and likely delayed absorption of nutrients could help explain the reported increase in satiation and decrease in hunger in old age.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies on sensory thresholds and food intake.
Source
Nutrition and Aging: Changes in the Regulation of Energy Metabolism With Aging
Susan B. Roberts et al. · Physiological Reviews · 2006
DOI 10.1152/physrev.00019.2005
narrative_reviewCited 361×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Healthy aging is associated with an impaired ability to regulate energy intake, specifically through reduced hunger perception and increased post-meal satiation, leading to an inability to compensate for energy deficits and resulting in involuntary weight loss.Good
- Altered glucose and insulin homeostasis in older adults, including elevated postprandial glucose and insulin, delays the return of hunger and contributes to reduced energy intake.Moderate
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