Memory on the Tongue: How Taste, Smell, and Nostalgia Can Nourish us as we age
By Mindy Yang
September is World Taste & Smell Month
When we speak about food, we often speak about flavor. But flavor itself is not a single sense—it is a symphony of taste, smell, memory, and emotion.
For older adults, this symphony becomes increasingly faint, disrupted by physiological changes, health conditions, or medications that alter their ability to taste and smell. This decline doesn’t just dull mealtimes—it can also lead to nutritional deficiencies, depression, and even cognitive decline.
But what if nostalgia—an emotional bridge to the past—could offer a way back into the pleasure of eating? A recent study led by Dr. Carolyn Ross at Washington State University suggests that evoking positive food memories may reignite enjoyment and boost food intake among older adults. At the World Taste & Smell Association, we believe this opens a powerful pathway for innovation at the intersection of sensory science, aging, and well-being.
The Hidden Senses: Why Taste and Smell Matter More Than We Think
As we age, it’s common to experience a decline in olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste) function. Nearly one in three adults over 65 report some degree of sensory loss. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a public health issue.
Smell contributes up to 80% of what we perceive as flavor. Without it, food becomes flat, unfamiliar, or even unpleasant. This sensory disconnection can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, malnutrition, and a diminished sense of joy and identity. When someone says, “I don’t enjoy food like I used to,” it often reflects a deeper story about sensory health.
Yet these same senses—taste and smell—are also the deepest triggers of memory. A whiff of cinnamon can transport us to a holiday kitchen. A bite of stewed tomato can evoke a grandmother’s garden. This is where nostalgia becomes a powerful tool.
Nostalgia as Medicine: Reawakening the Senses Through Emotion
In the recent Journal of Food Science study, researchers found that older adults showed increased interest and enjoyment in foods tied to personal memories or comfort. These nostalgic foods—often connected to family, culture, and formative experiences—had the power to elevate mood and encourage eating, even in those with diminished appetites.
At WTSA, we see this as an invitation: can we design flavor experiences that draw on memory, tradition, and emotional resonance to restore joy and nutrition to aging populations?
The answer lies in multisensory, personalized interventions that acknowledge the whole person—not just their dietary needs, but their lived experience.
The Call to Action: Reimagining Eldercare with Sensory Intelligence
It’s time to treat flavor and fragrance as therapeutic tools in eldercare settings.
Whether it’s nursing homes, home care, or memory support programs, we can:
Develop culinary protocols that reintroduce memory-linked flavors using real ingredients and aroma reactivation techniques.
Create retronasal training programs to help rebuild flavor recognition, even when orthonasal smell (sniffing) is impaired.
Integrate scent rituals and edible storytelling into mealtimes to encourage mindfulness and emotional connection.
Use scent and taste to support cognitive function, mood regulation, and even social bonding.
And crucially, we must listen to elders’ stories. Their memories hold the key to unlocking foods that feel meaningful, comforting, and empowering.
Toward a More Delicious Future for All Ages
At the World Taste & Smell Association, we are building tools, curricula, and partnerships that make these possibilities real—from research at Columbia University to fieldwork with chefs and clinicians. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, at every stage of life, has access to deliciousness as a fundamental right.
This World Taste & Smell Month, we invite you to join us in rethinking aging—not as a time of loss, but as an opportunity to reawaken the senses, reimagine care, and restore joy through flavor.
Sources & Further Reading:
Ross, C.F. et al. (2025). “Older adults’ food enjoyment and the role of nostalgia.” Journal of Food Science.
FoodNavigator-USA: What inspires older consumers’ eating enjoyment? (July 2025)
