Old person smell

Old person smell is the characteristic odor of elderly humans.[1] Much like many animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the aging process. Research suggests that this enables humans to determine the suitability of potential partners based on age, in addition to other factors.[2]

One study suggested that old person smell may be the result of 2-nonenal, an unsaturated aldehyde which is associated with human body odor alterations during aging;[3] however, there are other hypotheses.[4] Another study failed to detect 2-nonenal at all, but found significantly increased concentrations of benzothiazole, dimethylsulphone, and nonanal on older subjects.[5]

In 2012 the Monell Chemical Senses Center published a press release claiming that the human ability to identify information such as age, illness, and genetic suitability from odor is responsible for the distinctive "old man smell". Sensory neuroscientist Johan Lundström stated, "Elderly people have a discernible underarm odor that younger people consider to be fairly neutral and not very unpleasant."[6]

Old person smell is known as kareishū (加齢臭) in Japan, where much social value is placed on personal grooming and specific upmarket odor-eliminating soaps are targeted at more elderly consumers.[7]

References
  1. Sifferlin, Alexandra (31 May 2012). "'Old-Person Smell' Really Exists, Scientists Say". Time. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. Mitro, Susanna; Gordon, Amy R.; Olsson, Mats J.; Lundström, Johan N. (30 May 2012). "The Smell of Age: Perception and Discrimination of Body Odors of Different Ages". PLOS ONE. 7 (5): e38110. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038110. PMC 3364187. PMID 22666457.
  3. Haze, S.; Gozu, Y.; Nakamura, S.; Kohno, Y.; Sawano, K.; Ohta, H.; Yamazaki, K. (2001). "2-Nonenal Newly Found in Human Body Odor Tends to Increase with Aging". Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 116 (4): 520–4. doi:10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.01287.x. PMID 11286617.
  4. MacMillan, Amanda. "Scientists Confirm Existence of 'Old Person Smell'". Health.com. Health Media Ventures, Inc. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. Gallagher, M.; Wysocki, C.J.; Leyden, J.J.; Spielman, A.I.; Sun, X.; Preti, G. (October 2008). "Analyses of volatile organic compounds from human skin". British Journal of Dermatology. 159 (4): 780–791. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08748.x. PMC 2574753. PMID 18637798.
  6. "The special scent of age". EurekAlert!. 30 May 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015.
  7. Levenstein, Steve (6 August 2008). "Japan's Aging Population Deals with Old Man Smell". Inventor Spot. Halcyon Solutions Inc. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
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