You know you must be doing something right if old people like you.
-- Dave Chappelle, comic
Most of us are familiar with the phrase "new car smell," and many of us know what is meant by "skunky." But did you know that there is really a thing called "old people smell"?
There's a good amount of information online, but sadly no helpful sites like "oldpeoplesmell.org." And the government medical library website doesn't have a lot on it. But I found a few things to share.
The website of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) says that there is something called "nonenal odor."
Human body odor consists of various components. In a study, the body odor of subjects between the ages of 26 and 75 was analyzed by gas chromatography. In those over 40, there was an odor that could be described as greasy or grassy -- whatever that means. That is nonenal.
It can be hard to detect on ourselves, but it will linger on things like shirt collars and pillow cases. It is often strong in confined environments such as nursing homes, which is probably part of the reason it's called old people smell.
Many cultures recognize the phenomenon, and the Japanese refer to it as "kareishu."
Research has shown that the body odors of some animals, such as mice, black-tailed deer, otters, owls and rabbits, change with age, too, and that animals can distinguish their young and old peers by smell.
There are two sources of body odor:
• Sweat glands secrete sweat, which is comprised of water and organic substances that provide an environment for bacterial growth. Bacterial breakdown of sweat compounds results in traditional body odor. Since sweat is water based, this type of odor is easily removed with soap and water.
• Sebaceous glands produce lipids (fatty acids) that oxidize (combine with oxygen) and are transformed into nonenal, an organic compound that produces the unique odor. As our skin's antioxidant defenses decrease with age, nonenal formation and the resulting odor can increase. Unlike sweat, lipid acids are not water soluble and will remain on the skin despite scrubbing. That is why nonenal exists in even the cleanest environments.
Older people's homes often have what could be termed an old people smell as well.
Some elderly people feel cold a lot of the time and keep their houses shuttered up, so their homes can be stuffy. They may have the heat on, the windows shut, the shades drawn and curtains pulled down over that. Or it may be they are afraid of crime, so they keep things locked up tight and no fresh air comes in at all.
As people age some find it harder to keep their homes clean. From bodily weakness to a lack of money to hire help, there are reasons why dust, mold, mildew and the like can accumulate and cause a stale odor.
The same goes for getting laundry done. It's easier some days to hang that shirt up to wear again. Raise your hand if you've done that.
Older people's sense of smell isn't as keen as it once was either. By the 70s, it can decline by 75 percent. And slacking off on hygiene, from body odor to bad breath, has an impact on the home. Loss of vision contributes -- they can't see the stain on their shirt or mold on the wall.
Dehydration, which is common in older people, can contribute. If we don't drink enough water, everything becomes more concentrated and the odors come out of the pores.
And taking a shower or bath can seem like a lot of work. If elders stay home most of the time, they may feel that there are fewer reasons to freshen up.
Medications do play a part, especially those with strong smells that are excreted through the pores. Many topical treatments, Ben-Gay or mentholated ointments, have strong odors.
And last, many older people live in homes surrounded by old things. There's dust, dampness and musty smells from aged books and papers, clothing and linens, and keepsakes.
Old people smell can be off-putting, but remember, folks under 40, your day is coming.
Email me at:
rboggs@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 02/12/2018