Comparisons of the estimates of smell, taste and overall intensity in young and elderly people

Abstract
Absolute magnitude estimates of the smell, taste and overall intensity were examined in young (18–21 years) and elderly (61–94 years) people. The odorant/tastant pairs were either solutions of almond extract or lime/sucrose. For each age group estimates of overall intensity were less than the sum of the estimates of each stimulus pair, these ratios were not affected by the age of the subjects. This occurred even though, on average, when compared with young and elderly people when the odorant was lime and the tastant sucrose. Thus, the data suggest that aging does not affect the process by which overall intensity is determined.