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Friday, May 10, 2019

Why Do Old People Smell? The Science of Body Odor and Aging

"Old people smell" is a real phenomenon. The chemical composition of odor-producing molecules changes as we age, plus there are other factors that affect scent. Here's a look at the causes of "old people smell," the biological reason for changing odor, and tips for minimizing the scent (should you wish to).

Body Odor Changes as We Age
There are several reasons why the retirement home smells different from the high school gym:
  1. Body chemistry changes over time. The characteristic scent associated with the elderly is the same, regardless of a person's ethnicity or culture. Scientists have figured out what's happening. As people age, fatty acid production in the skin increases while antioxidant production decreases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are oxidized, sometimes increasing the amount of a chemical called 2-nonenal. Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde known for its grassy, greasy scent. Some researchers did not detect 2-nonenal, but did find higher levels of the stinky organics nonanal, dimethylsulfone, and benzothiazole in the body odor of older subjects.
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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not to sound "Racist" but seriously, Indian people have their own smell, and black people theirs, and white people that are Garlic eaters stink to high heavens.

Anonymous said...

In simple terms, their bodies are starting to decay before they die??? Is that the gist?

Anonymous said...

You know why older people smell? Depends!

Anonymous said...

It's called : MOTH BALLS

Anonymous said...

1 cup of baking soda in your bath water eliminates all of the odors.If you shower use soap with baking soda.

Anonymous said...

If everyone ate garlic regularly there'd be no problem.

Gerald said...

The stink of Garlic eaters is really strong, it has made me gag and almost chuck my cookies and milk!
As for old people, I actually liked the smell of my mother, she used "Coty" powder and it had a pleasant sent, and when today I get a whiff of a older woman wearing it, I feel warm with her memory.

Anonymous said...

All Koreans smell like garlic. Dunno why unless they eat it daily with everything they eat.

Anonymous said...

Nursing homes and hospitals smell because of cleaning products such as bleach. Baby's smell great until they dirty diapers. Growing old is a cycle that everyone must accept. You are NOT going to be young forever. Treat those as you would want to be treated. The article is a waste of ink and paper or you geeks - data.

Anonymous said...

It's not just old people who stink.

Anonymous said...

Say what you want about garlic but it's a tremendous asset in fighting heart disease.

Flatulence said...

As a Old Fart....

I enjoy cutting smelly farts while waiting in long lines at the grocery store