Loss of Taste in Adulthood Closely Linked to Higher All-Cause Mortality: Study
A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed a strong connection between the loss of taste perception from early adulthood to mid-to-late adulthood and an increased risk of all-cause mortality. This study utilized data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the National Death Index (NDI) which suggest that adults who experience a subjective decline in taste function face a significantly higher mortality risk.
The population-based cohort study analyzed data from a total of 7,340 participants aged 40 years and older between 2011 and 2014. This study tracked mortality outcomes through the NDI up to December 31, 2019, with a median follow-up period of approximately 6.67 years. During this time, 1,011 deaths were recorded.
Of the participants, 662 individuals (weighted at 8.9%) reported a perceived decline in their ability to taste basic flavors (salt, sourness, sweetness, or bitterness) since the age of 25. This group expressed a 47% higher risk of death when compared to those who did not report taste loss, even after adjusting for various demographic and health-related factors (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.03).
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