Category: Sensory disorders

Did you know that true ageusia, the complete loss of taste, is a rare condition, affecting only one or two people out of every 1,000? To understand what ageusia taste like, you must first comprehend that it is not a distinct taste at all, but rather the absence of all flavor perception.

Anosmia, the loss of smell, is common, particularly with age, affecting 14.1% of people over 80 according to a 2012 study. This condition significantly alters appetite and eating behaviors because the sense of smell is crucial for perceiving flavor and enjoying food.

According to the National Institutes of Health, over 12% of U.S. adults experience some form of olfactory dysfunction, with hyposmia deficiency, or a decreased sense of smell, being a common presentation. This condition can range from a mild inconvenience to a significant safety risk, impacting daily life in various ways.

Studies have revealed a significant link between iron deficiency and alterations in a person's sense of smell, suggesting that low iron can indeed affect smell. These olfactory dysfunctions can manifest as a reduced ability to perceive odors, or in some cases, an unusual and specific craving for certain smells.