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FLAVOUR PERCEPTION IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF OLFACTORY AND GUSTATORY ASSESSMENT METHODS

Danel Ushkempirova, Louise Davis, Alan Chalmers

J Aging Res & Lifestyle 2026;15

Disruptions in flavour perception, due to olfactory dysfunction and gustatory dysfunction, may serve as early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease and contribute to reduced quality of life. Flavour perception is a multisensory process, yet no standardised tools currently exist to assess it comprehensively in Alzheimer’s disease. This systematic review examined current olfactory and gustatory assessments used to evaluate flavour function in individuals with Alzheimer’s. Six studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 471 participants, including 161 with Alzheimer’s. Olfactory function was most often assessed with the Sniffin’ Sticks test, while gustatory function was typically evaluated using Taste Strips. While olfactory dysfunction was consistently reported across studies, evidence for gustatory impairment was less uniform, reflecting methodological variability in taste assessment procedures. Only one study used a culturally adapted test, and none assessed umami. However, the small number of studies, heterogeneity in methodology, and limited cultural adaptation constrain the generalisability of these findings. These findings highlight the need for a culturally adaptable, combined flavour assessment tool that minimises cognitive and linguistic demands to support early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease.

CITATION:
Danel Ushkempirova ; Louise Davis ; Alan Chalmers (2025): Flavour perception in Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review of olfactory and gustatory assessment methods. The Journal of Aging and Lifestyle (JARLife). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarlif.2025.100044

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EXPLORING BALANCE CHALLENGE IN FALL PREVENTION COMMUNITY EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS ACROSS CANADA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ELECTRONIC SURVEY OF INSTRUCTOR PERCEPTIONS

Alison M Bulow, Alexie J Touchette, Alison R Oates, Kathryn M Sibley

J Aging Res & Lifestyle 2026;15

BACKGROUND: Exercise that challenges balance helps reduce falls in older people. Evaluating the intensity of balance challenge is difficult and no validated measures exist for group settings. OBJECTIVE: To examine how instructors determine and perceive balance challenge at the program level, and explore relationships between estimates of program-level balance challenge. DESIGN: Cross-sectional self-report study SETTING: Electronic survey questionnaire approach. PARTICIPANTS: Instructors of Canadian group exercise programs targeting community-dwelling older adults. MEASUREMENTS: Instructors perceived program-level balance challenge and estimates of program-level balance challenge. RESULTS: Most instructors (n = 108, 77%) perceived that their programs fully challenged balance among participants. However, no programs were identified as highly challenging. Most of the observed non-verbal balance challenge behaviours observed (n = 4, 80%) had no relationship to perception of balance challenge. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a misalignment between instructor perception and estimates of balance challenge at the program level. Further investigations of methods to assess balance challenge are warranted.

CITATION:
Alison M Bulow ; Alexie J Touchette ; Alison R Oates ; Kathryn M Sibley (2025): Exploring balance challenge in fall prevention community exercise programs for older adults across Canada: A cross-sectional electronic survey of instructor perceptions Author links open overlay panel. The Journal of Aging and Lifestyle (JARLife). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarlif.2025.100046

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