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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Alzheimer's Disease | Research article

Detection and recognition thresholds for five basic tastes in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease dementia

Authors: Minoru Kouzuki, Junya Ichikawa, Daiki Shirasagi, Fumiya Katsube, Yuuki Kobashi, Hideki Matsumoto, Huichia Chao, Shintaro Yoshida, Katsuya Urakami

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) are thought to exhibit taste disorders; however, this has not been extensively studied. We investigated gustatory functions and factors affecting taste in patients with ADD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and in non-demented controls (NDCs) and evaluated associations between cognitive impairment and gustatory functions.

Methods

We recruited 29 patients with ADD, 43 with MCI, and 14 with NDCs. We obtained medical and medication history, measured salivary secretion volumes, and performed cognitive function tests, blood tests, whole-mouth gustatory tests, and dietary and gustatory questionnaires.

Results

Patients with ADD showed significantly higher recognition threshold values than NDCs (p < 0.05). Many individuals did not recognize umami at the maximum concentration, and this happened more frequently in patients with ADD or MCI than in NDCs. Evaluation items other than cognitive function tests did not show significant differences among the groups, but many individuals had decreased salivation, low serum zinc levels, and were on multiple medications. We found a significant correlation between recognition threshold and age (r = 0.229, p < 0.05) and cognitive function test score (r = 0.268, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with ADD showed impairment of gustatory function. Gustatory impairment in patients with MCI could not be confirmed. However, many individuals with MCI did not recognize umami, either. Our results suggest that taste disorders in elderly people with cognitive decline occur independently of factors affecting taste such as salivation, zinc levels, or prescription drugs.

Trial registration

The study was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on February 10, 2017, with reference number UMIN000026087.
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Metadata
Title
Detection and recognition thresholds for five basic tastes in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease dementia
Authors
Minoru Kouzuki
Junya Ichikawa
Daiki Shirasagi
Fumiya Katsube
Yuuki Kobashi
Hideki Matsumoto
Huichia Chao
Shintaro Yoshida
Katsuya Urakami
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-020-01691-7

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