What Causes Reduced Sense of Taste?

What Causes Reduced Sense Of Taste?

Reduced sense of taste can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose reduced sense of taste, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "reduced sense of taste" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Brain Tumor
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Alzheimer's Disease
Lichen Planus
Zinc Need
Vitamin A Need
Lyme Disease
Vitamin B12 Need

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

inability to use arm(s)

darker/redder skin color

history of anorexia

impaired ability to walk

seizures

recent "don't care" attitude

brain cancer

high current exposure to solvents

continuing slight limb numbness

tongue soreness

Alzheimer's disease

low aerobic exercise level

... and more than 100 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of reduced sense of taste:

Cause	Probability	Status
Brain Tumor	96%	Confirm
Vitamin B12 Need	29%	Unlikely
Lyme Disease	15%	Unlikely
Guillain-Barre Syndrome	5%	Ruled out
Zinc Need	1%	Ruled out
Vitamin A Need	1%	Ruled out
Alzheimer's Disease	0%	Ruled out
Lichen Planus	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Mouth/Oral Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about decreased ability to taste:

Has your sense of taste declined within the past few years, for reasons other than nasal congestion?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No, my sense of taste has remained about the same
→ Yes, but it is due to ongoing nasal congestion
→ Yes, it is somewhat worse now
→ Yes, it is a lot worse now

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate no change in sense of taste, loss of taste due to blocked nose, reduced sense of taste or much reduced sense of taste, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease may lead to a decreased sense of taste.

Bell's Palsy

The facial nerve also innervates some of the taste buds of the tongue, sometimes causing a reduction in the sense of taste.

Brain Tumor

Depression

Depression is associated with reduced levels of serotonin and noradrenalin. The decrease of these levels has been linked to the loss of sense of taste.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The sense of taste may become altered or reduced.

Lyme Disease

Oral Lichen Planus

If the tongue is affected, this may result in a blunted taste sensation.

Vitamin A Requirement

Taste deficiency is reported by patients with vitamin A deficiency; vitamin A helps maintain a keen sense of taste and smell.

Vitamin B12 Requirement

Zinc Requirement

Zinc deficiency can present itself as a reduced or distorted sense of taste.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™