Is Japan Addressing the Issue of Old Man Smell?

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SUMMARY

Japan is addressing the phenomenon known as "kareishu," or "old man smell," which is linked to the aging population and the production of a fatty acid called 2-Nonenal. This compound emits a distinct odor that is challenging to mask and is associated with the elderly. The scent has been described as greasy and grassy, and it is sometimes referred to as "library aldehyde" due to its resemblance to the smell of old books. Observations indicate that sensitivity to this odor varies among individuals, particularly between younger and older people.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of organic compounds, specifically fatty acids
  • Familiarity with the concept of aging and its physiological effects
  • Knowledge of cultural perceptions of aging in Japan
  • Awareness of sensory perception differences among age groups
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  • Research the chemical properties and effects of 2-Nonenal
  • Investigate cultural attitudes towards aging in different societies
  • Explore studies on olfactory sensitivity across different age demographics
  • Examine the impact of aging on social interactions and perceptions
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Researchers in gerontology, cultural anthropologists, and anyone interested in the social implications of aging and sensory perception.

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Japan battles "the old man smell"

Something weird I heard about on the radio this morning.

http://inventorspot.com/articles/japans_aging_population_deals_with_old_man_smell_16746

Japan's average population is aging at a rate faster than most other industrialized nations and with age, comes wisdom... and a few other things too. As if hard-working "salarymen" don't already have enough worries, now they have to deal with "old man smell". The phenomena has even been given a name: kareishu.

Kareishu is caused by a certain type of fatty acid created in the bodies of older people. This substance, called "nonenal", has a distinct scent that is difficult to hide or mask since it is emitted from the skin when humans sweat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Nonenal

2-Nonenal has an unpleasant greasy and grassy odor. Because of these findings, some observers have concluded that Haze's team has identified the cause of the phenomenon commonly known as "old lady smell", "old man smell" or "old person smell", a meme found in pop culture relating to an odor that is characteristically associated with the elderly.[5] Similarly, some consider 2-nonenal's odor to resemble that of old books and is at times casually referred to as "library aldehyde."

:eek:

Gee, I would have thought they were just talking about Ben Gay and Grecian formula.
 
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Maybe it's nature's way of stopping old men from procreating. Luckily there are women like Heather Mills who can see past such superficialities.
 


That's really interesting. I wonder if anyone's done any studies on whether some people are more sensitive to it than other people. We used to have a part-time worker who was 69 years old, and one of the younger women in our office (she's 23) always complained that the first woman "smelled like an old person". The 23-year-old found it really and truly off-putting.
 


I know I can smell it. I'm 24 if that makes a difference.
 


I don't think I have ever noticed anything. I worked in a nursing home when I was a teenager and was around elderly folks a lot. I don't recall noticing anything then.