PTC Taste Threshold Distributions and Age in Mennonite Populations

Document Type

Article

Authors

T A. Koertvelyessy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
M H. Crawford, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
J Hutchinson, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Abstract

A number of studies report an impairment of the genetically inherited ability to taste PTC as a function of age, but ignore the cumulative effect of smoking on taste deterioration. This study examines the effect of aging on taste sensitivity in non­smoking Mennonite populations. The results obtained preclude a cause and effect relationship between age and PTC taste sensitivity. These results are congruent with the claims which ascribe the observed deterioration in PTC taste sensitivity to the cumulative effects of smoking, rather than to the effects of aging per se.

Recommended Citation

Koertvelyessy, T A.; Crawford, M H.; and Hutchinson, J (1982) "PTC Taste Threshold Distributions and Age in Mennonite Populations," Human Biology: Vol. 54: Iss. 3, Article 18.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol54/iss3/18