Age-related decrease of odorant sensitivity for a selection of nine diverse molecules.

Purpose: The ability to smell is known to decrease with age. Still, several studies demonstrate that age-related deterioration is not the inevitable fate of each individual but rather depends on "successful aging" and odorant properties. Based on these notions, in the present prospective study, we aimed to investigate odor thresholds in younger and older adults in response to an extended list of various odorants.