A recent study published by the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore found the number of active taste buds a person has decreases as they get older. The study also found there might be a link between this loss of taste buds and the increased chances of developing Type II diabetes as a person ages.

For the study, NIA researchers measured the density or number of taste buds on the tips of the tongues of more than 300 adults over a three-year period. They found these densities decreased over time, meaning there were fewer taste buds.

They also found a few of the subjects who were losing taste buds were also experiencing increases in their fasting blood sugars and that they had less of the hormone adiponectin in their fat cells.

Noting that prior research has linked both increasing fasting blood sugars and reduced adiponectin levels to Type II diabetes, the researchers promised to expand both the size and scope of their study so they could confirm its results.