When people get old, do they really smell like old people?

People with life experience know that many elderly people can smell some special smells, especially those who are very old or sick. This smell is difficult to describe, and many elderly people often cannot smell it themselves.

What is this smell? Why can it only be smelled on the elderly? Here is some scientific knowledge:

1. What is the “old man smell”?

Scientists have done a lot of research on this phenomenon and found that old age odor does exist and has little to do with personal living habits. The main reason is that the human body's metabolism becomes slower. The smell mainly comes from 2-nonenal (C9H16O, an unsaturated aldehyde) produced by the body's metabolism.

For middle-aged people over 40, the antioxidant substances on the body surface will gradually decrease, and the 2-nonenal secreted on the skin surface will accumulate, and the old man smell will inevitably appear. However, because young people have a fast metabolism and are not prone to the accumulation of 2-nonenal, they generally do not have this smell. Therefore, some Japanese scholars call it "age odor."

On the other hand, as we age, our metabolism slows down, and dead skin easily accumulates on the surface of the skin. If it is not cleaned up in time, it will accumulate more and more, and over time, it will be decomposed by surface bacteria and produce a special smell.

In addition, long-term greasy diet, insufficient exercise, and poor sleep will increase the secretion of sebaceous glands, increase the cholesterol content in the blood, and easily produce odor. This is also one of the reasons why men have more common and obvious old people's odor than women.

2. What body odors should you be wary of?

Of course, we cannot attribute all the odors on our body to age. For example, the odors mentioned below may be related to certain diseases. If they occur, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment.

Amine odor: This is most common in patients with uremia, because the kidneys cannot effectively excrete toxins from the body.

Rotten apple smell: This is most common in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. When the body's insulin secretion is significantly reduced, blood sugar cannot enter the body cells, and the body has to use non-sugar substances such as protein and fat to provide energy. When lipase is completely oxidized, substances such as pyruvate are produced.

Garlic smell: common in organophosphorus pesticide poisoning, the patient's exhaled gas and vomit will have a pungent sour smell.

Sour odor: Most common in patients with indigestion.

Rancid odor: most common in patients with cirrhosis and liver dysfunction.

3. Why can’t I smell the “old person smell”?

There is a term in medicine called "olfactory adaptation". Usually people cannot perceive the smell of their own body very sensitively.

The main component that causes the old man smell - "2-nonenal" - is actually not secreted at a high level in normal people, so it does not produce a very obvious or strong odor. Especially when people pay more attention to personal hygiene and health, this smell is even less obvious.

4. Can the “old person smell” be eliminated?

A normal human body will secrete various metabolic products. As long as you pay attention to personal hygiene, clean your body in time and replace your daily necessities with clean ones, you don’t have to worry about the accumulation of odor.

In addition, you should change clothes frequently. Dead skin is easily deposited on the elderly's underwear, so they must be changed after bathing. It is best to soak the changed clothes with softener, which can make the clothes softer and more fragrant, and can also reduce static electricity, which is good for protecting the skin.

Maintaining a good attitude, eating a healthy diet, exercising properly, eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and eating less fish, meat and spicy condiments are also effective ways to deal with it.

Of course, as we age, we will inevitably experience various discomforts. Regular physical examinations, timely medical treatment, early detection and early treatment of diseases, and avoid minor illnesses from becoming major ones. The healthier your life and body, the less likely it is to produce unhealthy metabolites, and the less likely it is to have abnormal body odor.

Finally, I want to say that you should not take too seriously the sensational statement circulating in society that “the older you are, the closer you are to death”!