Associated Conditions
Ageusia is associated with many medical conditions and health issues. These include amyloidosis, adrenocortical insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, herpes zoster oticus, gastroesophageal reflux, kidney failure, liver failure, hypertension, encephalitis or meningitis, stroke, multiple sclerosis, zinc or vitamin B deficiency, and Sjögren syndrome. This means that a loss of taste may indicate a more serious underlying disorder in the body. Some patients with cancer who undergo radiation or systemic chemotherapy to their neck or head might experience taste dysfunction after the treatment. Also, common neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s would decrease your taste function and cause symptoms of ageusia, especially in the early stages. [5]
