If you have ever spent time with an elderly person, you might have noticed a distinctive smell reminiscent of a mixture of grass and grease.
Many believe this could be due to the less meticulous hygiene habits of older people.
Have you ever wondered why elderly people. This unique scent isn't due to a lack of hygiene or an increase in physical activity, but rather a specific chemical component that changes with age.
Scientists have yet to understand the deeper meaning behind this phenomenon, only knowing that certain chemicals are responsible.
Specifically, in elderly people, it's an unsaturated aldehyde called 2-nonenal. This substance starts appearing on a person's skin around the age of 40 and increases over time, regardless of gender.
Our body odor is composed of various components, and one particular compound, 2-Nonenal, becomes more prominent as we age.
2-Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde that is also found in aged beer and buckwheat. This compound contributes significantly to what we often refer to as the "old person smell."
Researchers examined individuals aged 26 to 75 and discovered that 2-Nonenal was present only in subjects aged 40 and above. The study described 2-Nonenal as having an "unpleasant greasy and grassy odor."
The study revealed that the increase in 2-Nonenal is linked to the oxidative degradation of omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids in the skin.
2-Nonenal is produced when Omega-7 fatty acids in the subcutaneous fat react with oxygen. Over time, the number of antioxidants decreases while the secretion of Omega-7 fatty acids increases.
This oxidation process becomes more intense as we age, producing a significant amount of 2-Nonenal, which causes the body to emit the "old person smell.
People with PD often experience seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that causes red, scaly skin due to excessive oil secretion from sebaceous glands.
Scientists have found that the sebum of PD patients contains higher amounts of certain compounds compared to those without the condition. Therefore, sebum analysis has emerged as a potential biomarker for diagnosing PD.
The presence of 2-Nonenal, influenced by the degradation of omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids, plays a crucial role in this unique scent.
This means that there isn't much we can do to eliminate the strong "old person smell," but it doesn't say anything about personal hygiene. It's simply a very normal biological process of being human.
None of us should feel embarrassed about it, and eventually, we all grow old.
