Abstract Sensory perception begins before birth and enables us to interpret the biological relevance of stimuli in our near environment. In early life, the senses play a crucial role in informing acceptance and rejection of foods and beverages. Food preferences develop with experience based on associations formed between a foods flavour and the consequence of its consumption. In adulthood the role of the chemical senses is often simplified into simple ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’, but recent evidence highlights a more functional role in guiding eating behaviours and nutrition. A food’s perceptual properties are important for the detection of its nutrient content and through this, guide not only food choice but also habitual energy selection and consumption behaviour. As we age and the prevalence of chronic disease increases, sensory acuity often declines for taste, smell and texture perception, and this can have an impact on food perception, preference and food intake. This creates an opportunity to apply an understanding of sensory influences on choice and intake to stimulate appetite during periods where nutrient intakes may become compromised. This paper summarises current knowledge of the changing role of the senses during infancy and early childhood, through to adulthood, older age and illness. The aim is to highlight opportunities to improve health and wellness through a better understanding of how sensory factors can influence eating behaviours and nutrition at key time points across the lifespan.

中文翻译：

---

在整个生命周期中，感官在食物选择和食物摄入中的作用不断变化

摘要 感官知觉在出生前就开始了，使我们能够解释附近环境中刺激的生物学相关性。在生命早期，感官在告知人们接受和拒绝食物和饮料方面起着至关重要的作用。食物偏好是根据食物风味与其消费结果之间形成的关联的经验而发展起来的。在成年期，化学感官的作用通常被简化为简单的“喜欢”和“不喜欢”，但最近的证据强调了在指导饮食行为和营养方面更具有功能性的作用。食物的感知特性对于检测其营养成分很重要，通过它，不仅可以指导食物选择，还可以指导习惯性能量选择和消费行为。随着年龄的增长和慢性病患病率的增加，味觉、嗅觉和质地感知的感官敏锐度通常会下降，这会对食物感知、偏好和食物摄入产生影响。这创造了一个机会，可以应用对选择和摄入的感官影响的理解，以在营养摄入可能受到损害的时期刺激食欲。本文总结了目前关于感官在婴儿期和幼儿期、成年期、老年期和疾病期间作用变化的知识。目的是通过更好地了解感官因素如何在整个生命周期的关键时间点影响饮食行为和营养，从而突出改善健康和保健的机会。这创造了一个机会，可以应用对选择和摄入的感官影响的理解，以在营养摄入可能受到损害的时期刺激食欲。本文总结了目前关于感官在婴儿期和幼儿期、成年期、老年期和疾病期间作用变化的知识。目的是通过更好地了解感官因素如何在整个生命周期的关键时间点影响饮食行为和营养，从而突出改善健康和保健的机会。这创造了一个机会，可以应用对选择和摄入的感官影响的理解，以在营养摄入可能受到损害的时期刺激食欲。本文总结了目前关于感官在婴儿期和幼儿期、成年期、老年期和疾病期间作用变化的知识。目的是通过更好地了解感官因素如何在整个生命周期的关键时间点影响饮食行为和营养，从而突出改善健康和保健的机会。