Sensorial differences according to sex and ages

Abstract

To investigate age and sex differences in orofacial sensory detection. One hundred and twenty-six (126) healthy subjects were divided into five groups according to their ages. They were assessed with a quantitative sensory testing protocol for gustative, olfactory, thermal (cold/warm), mechanical (tactile/vibration/electric), and pain (deep/superficial) detection thresholds. The corneal reflex was also evaluated. Data were analyzed with the one-way ANOVA, chi-squared, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The groups of subjects over 61years old had higher olfactory (P<0.001), gustative (sweet P=0.004, salty P=0.007, sour P=0.006), thermal (warm P<0.001, cold P<0.001), and tactile (P<0.001) detection thresholds than the others. The vibration detection threshold was high only for subjects over 75years old (P<0.001). The electric and deep pain detection thresholds were different for the 61-75years old group (P≤0.001). Women in all age groups had lower gustative (sweet P=0.020, salty P=0.002, sour P<0.001, and bitter P=0.002), olfactory (P=0.010), warm (P<0.001) and deep (P<0.001), and superficial pain (P=0.008) detection thresholds than men, and men from all age groups had lower vibratory detection thresholds (P=0.006) than women. High sensory detection thresholds were observed in subjects over the 6th decade of life, and women had a more accurate sensory perception than men.