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Sensory function declines with age and may impact sexual function in older adults. Indeed, the sense of smell plays a uniquely strong role in sexual motivation. Therefore, olfactory dysfunction in older adults may be intimately linked to changes in sexual desire and satisfaction. To test whether impaired olfactory function is associated with decreased sexual activity and motivation in older adults. Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older U.S. adults from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. 2 modalities of olfactory function were measured (sensitivity to n-butanol and odor identification) via validated methods (Sniffin' Sticks). Respondents answered survey questions about frequency of sexual thoughts (motivation) and sexual activity, and satisfaction with their most recent sexual relationship. A wide range of demographic, health, and social information were also collected. Decreased olfactory function in older U.S. adults was associated with decreased sexual motivation (odds ratio 0.93, P =.03) and less emotional satisfaction with sex (odds ratio 0.89, P =.04), but not decreased frequency of sexual activity or physical pleasure, in analyses that were adjusted for age, gender, race, education, cognition, comorbidities, and depression. Olfactory dysfunction may affect sexuality in older adults. Potentially treatable causes of sensory loss should be addressed by clinicians to improve quality of life. These results rely on validated olfactory testing, detailed measures of sexual attitudes and behaviors, and extensive demographic, health, and social history in a nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults. Owing to the cross-sectional nature of these analyses, we cannot determine causality. Olfactory dysfunction in older U.S. adults is associated with decreased sexual motivation and emotional satisfaction, potentially due to evolutionarily-conserved neurological links between olfaction and sexuality. Siegel JK, Kung SY, Wroblewski KE, et al. Olfaction Is Associated With Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction in Older Men and Women. J Sex Med 2021;18:295–302. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The sexual experience is shaped by sensory function; with aging, sensory dysfunction may interfere with sexuality and sexual behavior between partners. Specifically, older adults with age-related sensory dysfunction may have less sexual activity than those with better sensory function. In addition, since sexual desire and attraction rests in part upon sensory function, sensory dysfunction may also be associated with less sexual motivation. Aim To test the association between sexual activity and motivation in older adults and their sensory dysfunction. Methods Sensory dysfunction was measured both by global sensory impairment (a validated measure of dysfunction shared among the 5 classic senses: olfaction, vision, taste, touch, hearing) and by total sensory burden (cumulative sensory loss). Sexual activity was quantified by frequency and type of sexual behavior. Sexual motivation was measured by the frequency of sexual ideation and the importance of sex to the respondent. We used cross-sectional data from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults (aged 57–85 years) in the United States (National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, N = 3,005) in logistic regression analyses. Outcomes Sexual activity, sexual motivation, and satisfaction with the sexual relationship were self-reported. Results Older adults with sensory dysfunction were less likely to be sexually active—an association that persisted when accounting for other factors that also affected sexual activity (age, gender, partnered status, mental and physical health, and relationship satisfaction). Nonetheless, sensory dysfunction did not impair sexual motivation, nor affect the physical and emotional satisfaction with the sexual relationship. Among currently sexually active older adults, sensory dysfunction did not affect the frequency of sex or the type of sexual activity (foreplay, vaginal intercourse, or oral sex). These results were the same for 2 different measures of sensory dysfunction. Clinical Translation This is the first nationally representative study of sexuality and multisensory dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults. 4 of the 5 classic senses were measured with objective tests, and hearing was rated by interviewers in the context of their conversation. Medical and health care interventions that can reduce the burden of sensory dysfunction may improve older adults’ sexual experience. Conclusions Sensory dysfunction is associated with sexual inactivity, but not with sexual motivation. Among those who are sexually active, sensory dysfunction did not interfere with sexual expression. Improving the sexual experience of older adults requires a focus on sensory dysfunction as an impediment to sexual activity given that older adults remain sexually motivated. Zhong S, Pinto JM, Wroblewski KE, et al. Sensory Dysfunction and Sexuality in the U.S. Population of Older Adults. J Sex Med 2018;15:502–509. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]