Sensory impairment: Natural result of aging

Abstract

Over the next 10 years, a generational group known as the Baby Boomers will become America's senior citizens and account for 22% of the country's population.Aging challenges such as sensory impairment may cause older adults to develop eating habits that may not align with developing medical conditions. This review addresses prevalence and severity of impairment for the five senses and the role of texture as human's age, such as the decline of olfactory acuity and the increase in basic taste thresholds. Despite the heterogenous impact of sensory impairment on older adults, it is not associated with reduced food liking. The food industry can implement strategies to help older adults overcome age-related sensory decline to make food choices that promote healthy aging. Food products should be evaluated holistically, from packaging to last bite, to better guide and encourage food purchase, consumption, and liking toward healthy aging among older adults. Practical ApplicationsUnderstanding the implications of age on the accuracy of senses helps the industry develop better strategies to encourage healthy food purchases and consumption toward healthy aging. Product development strategies should address both intrinsic and extrinsic attributes to overcome sensory impairment and to promote healthy nutrition and aging. | INTRODUCTIONGlobally, senior citizens are defined as adults over the age of 65. In the United States, this demographic is increasing as the generational group known as the Baby Boomers age. Baby Boomers are defined as adults born between 1946 and 1964(Merriam-Webster, 2021. Over the next 10 years, all Baby Boomers will be senior citizens. Americans over the age of 50 have a median net worth that is nearly twice as much as Americans between the age of 18 and 49 (Mintel, 2019a). This generational group accounts for 22% of the U.S. population whereas the millennial group accounts for 24% of the U.S. popu lation (Mintel, 2019b). Baby Boomers are largely overlooked despite their wealth and comparable size to millennial. Roughly 5% of U.S. advertising targets consumers over the age of 50 (Mintel, 2019a).Baby boomers should not be overlooked as this aging group has needs and wants that should be addressed to maintain a good quality of life and support healthy aging.There are several challenges that come with aging. The main concern for most is overall health and maintaining it. Though most boomers do not consider themselves "seniors" nor "dependent," it is common that they are experiencing the effects of aging or have seen the effects on their parents or peers. This could lead to fears of losing their independence and fears of being a burden. From a medical perspective, frailty and sarcopenia are two of many chronic conditions that impact seniors. Frailty is a multisystem disorder observed in the elderly, which includes the decline in mental and physical abilities (Clegg, Young, Iliffe, Rikkert, & Rockwood, 2013). Sarcopenia is the decline in skeletal muscle mass associated with aging, which contributes to frailty ...

Use of daily posture and activity tracking to assess sedentary behavior, toss-and-turns, and sleep duration of independently living Thai seniors

“…The PHSES measures fundamental sensory receptor problems (P), including hearing (H), seeing (S), and eating (E). 69,70 Problem with sleeping (S) that affects health is also included as part of this combined measure. 43,71 Cognitive health was the self-perception of the elders about their health.…”